FORMOSAT 8A, ..., 8F

FORMOSAT 8 [TASA]

FORMOSAT 8 is an earth observation satellite constellation consisting six high-resolution optical remote sensing satellites with a resolution of 1 meter. under development by Taiwan' NSPO.

The FORMOSAT-8 program develops six high-resolution optical remote sensing satellites with a resolution of 1 meter. These satellites are deployed in the sun-synchronous orbit to form a constellation, and the sub-meter resolution is achieved through the Super Resolution method of ground image post-processing. The constellation deployment can provide multiple daily revisit capabilities and global coverage of satellite images (including stereoscopic images) as well as dynamic monitoring information to achieve real-time satellite resource requirements.

The 380 kg satellites feature a Hydrogen peroxide propulsion system. The imaging payload features one panchromatic band and at least four multi-spectral bands with a ground sampling distance (GSD) in panchromatic band of 1 m and in muulti-spectral bands of 2 m. The swath width is 10 km.

Some of the satellites will carry a secondary scienc payload:

• FORMOSAT-8A carries the Dual-band Imager of Atmospheric Transient (DIAT) and Electron Temperature and Density Probe(TeNeP) which will be developed by National Cheng Kung University. The study focuses on the topics of atmospheric electricity, ionospheric physics and high energy physics.
• FORMOSAT-8B Science Payload is a gamma-ray space telescope, named as Gamma-ray Transients Monitor (GTM), for monitoring cosmic gamma-ray transient events, in particular the famed Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) in astronomy. GTM is developed by National Tsing Hua University.
• FORMOSAT-8C Science Payload is National Cheng Kung University's payload, with a primary focus on creating a Multiple Particle Analyzer (MPA). The MPA employs a self-developed semiconductor detector to simultaneously measure disturbances in the ionospheric environment, including electrons, neutral particles, and ions. It is designed to study the effects of changes in space weather—such as solar activity, geomagnetic storms, and magnetospheric substorms—on the ionosphere.
• FORMOSAT-8D Science Payload is developed by National Tsing Hua University. Its goal is to build a gamma-ray space telescope, called Gamma-ray Polarimeter and Monitor (GPM). The major purpose of GPM is to monitor Gamma Ray Bursts in the universe. These observations are of essential importance to the study of cosmology, black-hole formation, origins of gravitational wave events and so on. GPM is more capable of measuring gamma-ray polarization states. It will provide a more powerful diagnostic tool to the aforementioned research. FORMOSAT-8D is planned to integrate a secondary payload - the Multispectral Air Pollution Sensors (MAPS-D) - to conduct aerosol and PM2.5 air pollution monitoring. It will be equipped with seven Visible and Near-Infrared (VNIR: 380nm~885nm) bands for observing aerosol air pollution, and two Shortwave Infrared (SWIR: 1.38um and 1.61um) bands responsible for observing high-altitude cirrus clouds and surface snow and ice. This data will be used to deduct the influence of cirrus clouds and snow/ice for the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) aerosol air pollution data retrieval. The instrument will be mounted in the positive Z (PZ) site of the FS-8D satellite, with dimensions of approximately 260 × 100 x 214 mm and a weight of approximately 2.3kg. The camera's swath will be 250 km.

According to the implementation strategy, the first and second satellites of FORMOSAT-8 are planned to be launched in 2024 and 2025; the third and fourth satellites will be launched in 2026 and 2027; the fifth and sixth satellites will be launched in 2028 and 2029. These are baselined to be dedicated launches small launch vehicles.