Formosat-2

Formosat-2

The model of Formosat-2
Names	ROCSAT-2
Mission type	Earth observation
Operator	NSPO
COSPAR ID	2004-018A
SATCAT no.	28254
Mission duration	12 years
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	NSPO
Launch mass	750 kg (1,650 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date	19 May 2004 17:47 UTC[1]
Rocket	Taurus XL
Launch site	Vandenberg Air Force Base
End of mission
Deactivated	19 August 2016[2]
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Sun-synchronous

Formosat-2 (Chinese: 福爾摩沙衛星二號, formerly known as ROCSAT-2) is a decommissioned Earth observation satellite formerly operated by the National Space Organization (NSPO) of Taiwan. It was a high-resolution photographic surveillance satellite with a daily revisit capability.[3] Images are commercially available from Astrium (formerly Spot Image).

Launch

Formosat-2 was launched on 19 May 2004, 17:47 UTC from Vandenberg Air Force Base aboard a Taurus XL rocket.[1] It had been delivered to the United States in December 2003, and had a scheduled launch date on 17 January 2004.[4] The launch was continually delayed until May 2004.[5][6] Formosat-2 was decommissioned in August 2016.[2]

See also

• National Space Organization
• 2004 in spaceflight

References

1. "Rocsat 2 - NSSDC ID: 2004-018A". NASA.
2. Chen, Wei-han (22 August 2016). "Aged Formosat-2 decommissioned". Taipei Times. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
3. "Formosat-2 images". Spot Image. Archived from the original on 2012-08-06.
4. Chiu, Yu-Tzu (2 December 2003). "Taiwan's new satellite on its way". Taipei Times. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
5. Chiu, Yu-Tzu (26 February 2004). "Postponing ROCSAT-2 launch not an election issue: NSC". Taipei Times. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
6. Chiu, Yu-Tzu (22 May 2004). "ROCSAT-2 gets off the ground". Taipei Times. Retrieved 4 July 2016.

External links