Taiwan’s National Space Organization (TASA) announced that the country’s first domestically-produced meteorological satellite, “Wind Hunter,” was successfully launched and made contact in October last year. After parameter adjustments, it is expected to officially provide much-needed sea surface wind speed data starting in June, adding to the repertoire of meteorological reference data for this year’s typhoon season.
During the “Science and Technology Shalun, Four Hundred Tainan, World Taiwan” exhibition series organized by the National Science Council of the Republic of China, TASA held the “Satellite Domestic Component Presentation and Wind Hunter Mission Progress Briefing” on April 29. The event showcased a total of 10 domestically-produced satellite components used by the Wind Hunter satellite, including the Global Navigation Satellite System Reflective Signal Receiver (GNSS-R), power control unit, space-grade GPS navigation receiver, Formosat-5 satellite computer, and Formosat-8 hydrogen peroxide propulsion unit.
TASA invited participating component manufacturers such as Fangxing Technology, Xinmao Composite Materials, Lichuang Optoelectronics, All-Link Technology, and Wah Lee Electronics to share and exchange experiences during the briefing session, aiming to create collaboration opportunities. Director Wu Zongxin of TASA stated that the successful operation of the Wind Hunter satellite signifies that Taiwan’s 11 key components and technologies developed independently have gained space flight credentials, assisting manufacturers in breaking into the international space supply chain. The Wind Hunter satellite continues to conduct data statistics and parameter adjustments, with the expectation to officially provide sea surface wind speed data in June as a reference for the meteorological forecasts of the Central Weather Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation.
Wu Zongxin mentioned Formosat-8 as an example, highlighting that all propulsion components for Formosat-8 are Taiwanese-produced products that can provide more flexible design and comprehensive solutions tailored to space mission requirements, offering better operational safety and lower costs compared to traditional propulsion systems currently in use.
Starting today until May 26, the “Wind Hunter Satellite Special Exhibition” will be held at the National Science Council’s Cyber-Physical Security and Intelligent Technology Innovation Building, showcasing a 1:1 scale model of the Wind Hunter satellite and domestically-produced satellite components and technologies such as satellite communication, optics, and attitude control. Interactive device models will be available on-site for visitors.
Furthermore, with the flourishing development of the space industry and the increasing demand for radiation detection in recent years, the “Taiwan Space Environment Radiation Detection Alliance” was established in 2019 under the leadership of the then-director of the National Space Organization, Lin Chunliang. The alliance was founded by the National Tsing Hua University Atomic Science and Technology Development Center, the Atomic Energy Council’s Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (now reorganized as the National Institute for Nuclear Science), Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Linkou, ITRI, Chang Gung University Medical Research Institute, and Academia Sinica’s Institute of Physics to provide one-stop services for radiation detection needs. TASA subsequently invited the National Taiwan University Cancer Center Branch, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and SGS to join the alliance last year.
TASA reported that in May this year, the National Taiwan University Center for Radiation Applications and Anti-Radiation Technology, Taipei Medical University Hospital Proton Center, and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Kaohsiung again joined the alliance, bringing the total number of alliance members to 13 units. Over the past 5 years, the alliance has served more than 12 companies and 10 academic research units, completing a total of 254 satellite component radiation tests.