By Yang Yuan-ting and Jake Chung / Staff reporter and staff writer
The Taiwan Space Agency’s (TASA) Startup CubeSat Program has launched two more satellites to test technologies for a future low-Earth orbit communications network. Both spacecraft established preliminary contact with ground stations after liftoff aboard a SpaceX rideshare mission.
The two 8U CubeSats, T.MicroSat-3 and T.MicroSat-4, developed by Tron Future Tech Inc, were launched at 7:04pm on Tuesday aboard SpaceX’s Bandwagon-5 mission, which deployed satellites into a mid-inclination orbit, TASA said yesterday.
The satellites established preliminary communications with ground stations in Chile and Azerbaijan before 3am yesterday, and were in good condition with sufficient power reserves, the agency said.
The T-Microsat-3 is pictured in an undated photograph.
Photo courtesy of Taiwan Space Agency
The launch marked the third batch of satellites under the Startup CubeSat Program, which follows a constellation-development strategy. By launching multiple satellites in stages, domestic companies can refine their designs based on the in-orbit performance of earlier spacecraft while progressively testing more advanced technologies, TASA said.
The two satellites would test beam-hopping technology, which allows them to adjust beam service times and coverage areas according to communications demand, improving the efficiency of satellite resources.
They would also test an intersatellite link to verify their ability to establish two-way communications and exchange data directly.
The team would further assess end-to-end data relay between the spacecraft to determine whether multiple satellites can work together to provide communications services, TASA said.
The tests aim to advance key technologies for low-Earth orbit broadband communications and coordinated satellite operations, the agency said, adding that other teams in the program are preparing additional launches.
Two more satellites in the Black Kite series, developed by Radiant Tech, and two in Fang Hsing Technology’s Albatross series are scheduled to launch in the first quarter of next year.
Those missions would continue testing satellite Internet of Things and ocean remote-sensing technologies, expanding opportunities for Taiwan’s space industry, TASA said.