The Deep Space Radiation Probe developed by National Central University (NCU) could be launched into space in the fourth quarter of this year after researchers confirmed that the system is ready for the nation’s first moon mission with a Japanese start-up.
“Pleased to report that we have successfully completed the handover of the National Central University Deep Space Radiation Probe (DSRP) payload to ispace Inc for integration with the Hakuto-R Mission 2 Resilience lunar lander,” NCU Department of Space Science and Engineering professor and dean Loren Chang (張起維) wrote on Facebook.
“Final payload software updates and functional checks were performed to verify that the DSRP flight model is ready for the mission to characterize the ionizing radiation environment from the Earth to the moon and its effects on electronics,” he wrote.
Photo: Yang Mien-chieh, Taipei Times
“Thank you to the student members of the DSRP payload team for designing, implementing and qualifying Taiwan’s first lunar payload in 21 months, as well as the ispace team for your support and guidance. We look forward to launching in Q4 of this year, as well as continuing collaboration and exchanges on this and future missions,” he wrote.
Various nations have begun planning missions to the moon in the past few years, hoping to establish permanent bases to harness lunar resources, Chang told a news conference in Taipei yesterday.
Increasingly more opportunities would be available in the near future for small and medium-sized satellites to ride along with larger projects to deep space or the moon, he said.
Photo: Yang Mien-chieh, Taipei Times
“Deep space is more than 2,000km away from Earth, and ionizing radiation in deep space is expected to create problems for electronic devices and life forms flying in it. However, the radiation is either blocked by the Earth or absorbed by the atmosphere,” Chang said.
“To have a deeper understanding of space radiation, we hope to measure it from Earth to the moon and the speed of its accumulation, which can serve as a reference for space missions or be considered when designing electronic and space products,” he added.
There are strict requirements for the size, weight and power consumption for the payload system, he said.
The weight must be less than 400g, which is equivalent to one bag of tea, and only slightly larger than the palm of a human hand, he said.
“It also needs to survive in the extreme temperatures of space for at least four months, and [we must] ensure that it does not crash and can perform its mission,” Chang said.
LONG FLIGHT: The jets would be flown by US pilots, with Taiwanese copilots in the two-seat F-16D variant to help familiarize them with the aircraft, the source said The US is expected to fly 10 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 70/72 jets to Taiwan over the coming months to fulfill a long-awaited order of 66 aircraft, a defense official said yesterday. Word that the first batch of the jets would be delivered soon was welcome news to Taiwan, which has become concerned about delays in the delivery of US arms amid rising military tensions with China. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said the initial tranche of the nation’s F-16s are rolling off assembly lines in the US and would be flown under their own power to Taiwan by way
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
OBJECTS AT SEA: Satellites with synthetic-aperture radar could aid in the detection of small Chinese boats attempting to illegally enter Taiwan, the space agency head said Taiwan aims to send the nation’s first low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite into space in 2027, while the first Formosat-8 and Formosat-9 spacecraft are to be launched in October and 2028 respectively, the National Science and Technology Council said yesterday. The council laid out its space development plan in a report reviewed by members of the legislature’s Education and Culture Committee. Six LEO satellites would be produced in the initial phase, with the first one, the B5G-1A, scheduled to be launched in 2027, the council said in the report. Regarding the second satellite, the B5G-1B, the government plans to work with private contractors
MISSION: The Indo-Pacific region is ‘the priority theater,’ where the task of deterrence extends across the entire region, including Taiwan, the US Pacific Fleet commander said The US Navy’s “mission of deterrence” in the Indo-Pacific theater applies to Taiwan, Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen Koehler told the South China Sea Conference on Tuesday. The conference, organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), is an international platform for senior officials and experts from countries with security interests in the region. “The Pacific Fleet’s mission is to deter aggression across the Western Pacific, together with our allies and partners, and to prevail in combat if necessary, Koehler said in the event’s keynote speech. “That mission of deterrence applies regionwide — including the South China Sea and Taiwan,” he