Taiwan is seeking to use Japan’s satellite services until the launch of its FORMOSAT-5 sat later this year, said the Science and Technology minister of Taiwan, Yang Hung-duen. Launch of FORMOSAT-5 had been delayed because of a failed rocket test by the US Company, SpaceX in June last year.
FORMOSAT-5 will not be launched until October, though the National Applied Research Laboratories had said the launch would take place last month. Until FORMOSAT-5 is put into service, Taiwan would rely on Japan for satellite services.
FORMOSAT-5 was scheduled to be launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California this year to replace the FORMOSAT-2, which is conducting remote sensing since May 2004.
