Taiwan's first domestically built weather satellite, the Triton, is set to launch in September from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana. The satellite was developed by the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) and is designed to collect data on sea surface wind speed and height, which will be used to improve typhoon tracking and forecasting.
The Triton is a 250-kilogram satellite that is about the size of a washing machine. It is equipped with a global navigation satellite system-reflectometry (GNSS-R) instrument, which uses reflected signals from GNSS satellites to measure sea surface wind speed and height. The data collected by the Triton will be used to improve the accuracy of typhoon tracking which will help to protect lives and property in Taiwan and the surrounding region.
The Triton is the latest in a series of satellites developed by TASA. In 2017, TASA launched the Formosat-5 satellite, which is used for remote sensing and disaster monitoring. The Triton is a significant step forward for Taiwan's space program, and it demonstrates the country's growing capabilities in satellite development and space technology. The launch of the Triton is scheduled for September 20, 2023. The satellite will be launched on an Arianespace Vega C rocket.
Taiwan is planning to launch a number of other satellites in the coming years, including a telecommunications satellite and a remote sensing satellite. These satellites will help to further strengthen Taiwan's space capabilities and will contribute to the country's economic and social development.