An Introduction to FORMOSAT-2’s Global Effectiveness

Abstract

FORMOSAT-2 (was called ROCSAT-2 formerly) of Taiwan’s National Space Organization (NSPO) is a small satellite of 746 kg mass for two remote sensing missions. Its mission orbit is sun-synchronous of 891 km altitude for exactly 14 revolutions per day. For earth observation, the payload is an advanced high resolution remote sensing instrument (RSI) with ground sampling distance (GSD) 2 m in panchromatic (PAN) band and 8 m in four multi-spectral (MS) bands. For upward lightning observation, the payload is an imager of sprites and upper atmospheric lightning (ISUAL). Launch date of FORMOSAT-2 was on 20 May 2004. After nearly 3 years of mission operations in orbit, i.e., more than one half of the mission life of 5 years, it is a proper time to assess and evaluate its worldwide effectiveness in Earth observation. To evaluate the effectiveness of developing a satellite, especially to a country with very limited resources such as Taiwan, we need to include all aspects. This paper gives the global effectiveness of FORMOSAT-2 a rather detailed assessment from the following areas: public education in Taiwan, Earth science and ecological niche research, preservation of the world heritages, contribution to the International Charter: space and major disasters, observation of suspected north Korea and Iranian nuclear facilities, and scientific observation of the atmospheric transient luminous events (TLEs). It can be concluded that FORMOSAT-2’s global effectiveness is pronounced and definitely promised. The development of FORMOSAT-2 is very valuable, not only to Taiwan but also to the whole world.