Taiwan-made Formosat-8 satellite set for launch from US next week

台灣製造的福衛八號衛星將於下週從美國發射。

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The launch of the first of eight Formosat-8 satellites has been scheduled for Nov. 11, reports said Wednesday.

The satellite has been named Chi Po-lin (齊柏林) after the late director of documentaries showing Taiwan from the air. The launch will take place early in the morning local time at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, with the SpaceX Transporter-15 rocket carrying the satellite, per CNA.

At least 84% of the Chi Po-lin’s key parts were made in Taiwan, according to the Taiwan Space Agency. The satellite arrived in the US a month ago, giving agency staff time to prepare for the launch.

The Chi Po-lin has a resolution of under 1 meter, making it able to provide clearer images than the Formosat-5 satellite currently in orbit. The Formosat-8 group is expected to reach a sun-synchronous orbit at a distance of 561 kilometers from Earth, with all eight satellites to be deployed in 2031.

The space agency said that data from the program would be used to help with agricultural monitoring, disaster response, environmental protection, and land use planning. Each satellite will be fitted with scientific equipment, with the Chi Po-lin focusing on atmospheric phenomena.

The space agency is planning to broadcast the launch live on YouTube and on Facebook between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.