FORMOSAT-5 is the first space program that National Space Organization (NSPO) takes full responsibility for the complete satellite system engineering design including payload(s). Mission of the program is shown as follows:

• To build up Taiwan’s self-reliant space technology on the remote sensing payload and spacecraft bus,
• To develop the key components of the EO-type remote sensing instrument and spacecraft bus by integrating the domestic resources,
• To continue to serve the global imagery users’ community of FORMOSAT-2, and
•  To promote the space science experiment & research.

FORMOSAT-5 will operate in a sun synchronous orbit at 720-km altitude with 98.28-degree inclination angle. An optical Remote Sensing Instrument (RSI), which provides 2-m resolution panchromatic (PAN, black & white) and 4-m resolution multi-spectral (MS, color) images, will be the primary payload. The primary payload consists of one PAN band with 12,000 pixels and four MS bands with 6000 pixels each.Recently, a scientific instrument, Advanced Ionospheric Probe (AIP), has been chosen for FORMOSAT-5 as the secondary payload. FORMOSAT-5 is currently scheduled to be launched by Falcon 9 of SpaceX in 2014.

Simulated Panchromatic Image (2m)	Simulated Multi-Spectral Image (4m)

To meet the major mission goals, National Applied Research Laboratory (NARL) authorized NSPO to integrate domestic resources to develop key space-qualified components for both payload and bus. The basic characteristics of FORMOSAT-5 are similar to FORMOSAT-2 which is still healthily operational beyond its designed mission life of five years. To build up indigenous space technology , NSPO is taking a bold step to be responsible for the complete system development of FORMOSAT-5. NSPO is confident in its in-house capability to accomplish the FORMOSAT-5 program timely.

FORMOSAT-5 Acquisition Strategy

NSPO has teamed up with several domestic partners for developing the key components of the space program. Key components for FORMOSAT-5 spacecraft bus include Power Control and Distribution Unit (PCDU), Command and Data Management Unit (CDMU), and Flight Software (FSW). RSI payload including key components, Focal Plane Assembly (FPA) and Electronic unit (EU) is 100% developed in Taiwan. Involved domestic partners include COMOS Sensor Inc. (CSI), Camels, Instrument Technology Research Center (ITRC), National Chip Implementation Center (CIC), Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC), and ChungShan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST). Foreign partners include SpaceTech GmbH Immenstaad (STI) and Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX). Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) sensor technology has been adopted for the RSI FPA development.

Major Domestic and Foreign Partners