Taiwan’s Rapidtek launches second CubeSat from US

台灣鐳洋科技股份有限公司（Rapidtek）從美國發射第二顆立方衛星

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Rapidtek Technologies on Monday launched its second CubeSat, Black Kite-2, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, to support Taiwan’s push to expand its low-Earth orbit satellite network.

The satellite has entered orbit and is part of the Taiwan Space Agency’s 8U Internet of Things CubeSat Program, which began in 2023. Under the program, the agency commissioned the company and the Industrial Technology Research Institute to develop four CubeSats, per CNA.

The company said its first CubeSat, Black Kite-1, launched in December, has connected with multiple ground stations worldwide. The satellite passes over Taiwan once or twice daily, sending data for about five minutes each time via the company’s ground stations.

Black Kite-2 sends data through ground stations jointly developed by Rapidtek and National Taipei University of Technology. It carries the company’s Ku-band antenna module, supported by ITRI’s communication technology, to enhance its high-speed data transmission.

Rapidtek said its Ku-band module strengthens connections between low-Earth orbit satellites and ground stations. Using beamforming to focus signals and scanning to follow moving satellites, it helps keep communications stable.

Black Kite-2, carrying multiple sensors, is also sending environmental measurements to test whether LoRa communication works in low-Earth orbit, the company said. LoRa is a low-power, long-range wireless technology used for the Internet of Things.

Company Chair Wang Yi-hsiang (王奕翔) said the two CubeSats are designed to test low-Earth orbit satellite communications and provide a reference for future performance improvements. The company plans to launch two more CubeSats this year to further strengthen Taiwan’s LEO satellite network.

In March, Rapidtek participated in the Space-Comm Expo in London and Satellite 2026 in Washington, D.C. The company showcased its low-Earth orbit satellite supply chain, including satellite models, antenna modules, and ground receiving equipment. It added that revenue from its satellite products has been rising annually.