This article is about a space agency in Taiwan (the Republic of China). For the space administrative office in Mainland China, see China National Space Administration.
Taiwan Space Agency
國家太空中心 Guójiā Tàikōng Zhōngxīn
Taiwan Space Agency Logo
Agency overview
Abbreviation
TASA
Former name
National Space Organization
Formed
October 1991; 32 years ago (1991-10) (as National Space Program Office) 1 April 2005; 19 years ago (2005-04-01) (as National Space Organization)
Taiwan Space Agency (short as TASA), formerly the National Space Organization from 1991 to 2023, is the national civilian space agency of the Republic of China (Taiwan), under the auspices of the National Science and Technology Council. TASA is involved in the development of space technologies and related research.[1]
TASA headquarters and the main ground control station are in Hsinchu. The TASA is organized as follows:[2] In April 2022, the Legislative Yuan passed a bill that upgraded the NSPO to a directly affiliated agency of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and renamed Taiwan Space Agency.[3]
06/21 National Science Council announced the result for the "Naming and Drawing Competitions", and finalized that the satellite will be named "FORMOSAT-1" [5]
10/07 The completion of FORMOSAT-1 satellite system integration and tests.[5]
Formosat-5: Optical earth observation and magnetic field research as a successor to the Japanese Reimei mission. Cooperation with Japan and Canada. Launch was originally planned for 2011,[19] it was launched in 2017.[20]
Formosat-6 was a micro satellite project, its development was cancelled.[21]
Formosat-7 is a group of 6 satellites in low inclination orbits to provide meteorology data at low and mid latitudes.[22] Launch took place in June 2019.
Triton, The FORMOSAT-7R (TRITON) is a micro-satellite designed and manufactured by NSPO. It is planned along with the FORMOSAT-7 program, thus it continues to use FORMOSAT serial number and subjoins a letter "R" for identification. Known as the "wind hunter" the satellite will measure sea winds and provide a supplement to the FORMOSAT-7 constellation. The name "Triton" is given due to its mission.[23] Triton was launched on October 8, 2023, by Arianespace SA from the Kourou launch complex in French Guiana. The Triton satellite will be 87% Taiwanese made, an improvement from the Formosat-7's 78%.[24][25]
YamSat: Series of picosatellites (volume 1000 cubic cm, weight roughly 850 grams) designed to carry out simple short duration spectroscopy missions.[26] Originally planned for launch in 2003 by a Russian launch vehicle but cancelled due to political pressure from the Russian government.[27]
Arase: JAXA mission to study the inner magnetosphere, launched 2016. Taiwan provided an instrument.
RISESAT: microsatellite developed by Tohoku University, Japan, launched in 2019. Taiwan provided an instrument.[28]
Flying Squirrel, developed by National Central University and launched in 2021.[29]
Yushan, developed by MoGaMe Mobile Entertainment and launched in 2021.[29]
Triton, The FORMOSAT-7R (TRITON) is a micro-satellite designed and manufactured by NSPO. It is planned along with the FORMOSAT-7 program, thus it continues to use FORMOSAT serial number and subjoins a letter "R" for identification. Known as the "wind hunter" the satellite will measure sea winds and provide a supplement to the FORMOSAT-7 constellation. The name "Triton" is given due to its mission.[23] Triton is to be launched in 2021 by Arianespace SA from the Kourou launch complex in French Guiana. The Triton satellite will be 87% Taiwanese made, an improvement from the Formosat-7's 78%.[24]
The first phase of Taiwan's space program involves the development of the human and technological resources required to build and maintain three satellite programs, which is expected to be completed with the launch of Formosat-3/COSMIC by the end of 2005. Currently, the spacecraft and instrumentation are designed and assembled in Taiwan by local and foreign corporations and shipped to the U.S. for launch by commercial space launch firms. TASA, the military, and Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology have also been working on the development of a sounding rocket for upper atmospheric studies.[citation needed]
The second phase is scheduled to take place between 2006 and 2018. It will involve an emphasis on developing technological integration and miniaturization capabilities required for the development of constellations of microsatellites, as well as encouraging growth in the local aerospace industry.[citation needed]
Since 2009, TASA has been working with university research teams in developing innovative technology to improve the overall efficiency of hybrid rockets. Nitrous oxide/HTPB propellant systems were employed with efficiency boosting designs, which resulted in great improvements in hybrid rocket performance using two patented designs. So far, several hybrid rockets have been successfully launched to 10~20 km altitudes, including a demonstration of in-flight stops/restarts. By the end of 2014, they will attempt conducting suborbital experiments to 100~200 km altitude.[citation needed]
There have been proposals to elevate NSPO's status to that of a national research institute, however such plans were under debate Legislative Yuan as of late 2007.[citation needed]
In 2019 the Ministry of Science and Technology announced an expected cost of NT$25.1 billion (US$814 million) for the third phase of the National Space Program.[30] The third phase will see at least one satellite launched per year between 2019 and 2028.[31]
In 2021 the Taiwanese legislature passed the Space Development Promotion Act which is meant to incentivize increased private sector participation in space industries.[33]
