Formosat-2

Formosat-2 (Chinese: 福爾摩沙衛星二號, formerly known as ROCSAT-2) is a decommissioned Earth observation satellite formerly operated by the National Space Organization (NSPO) of Taiwan. It was a high-resolution photographic surveillance satellite with a daily revisit capability.^[3] Images are commercially available from Astrium (formerly Spot Image).

Formosat-2

The model of Formosat-2
Names	ROCSAT-2
Mission type	Earth observation
Operator	NSPO
COSPAR ID	2004-018A
SATCAT no.	28254
Mission duration	12 years
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	NSPO
Launch mass	750 kg (1,650 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date	19 May 2004 17:47 UTC[1]
Rocket	Taurus XL
Launch site	Vandenberg Air Force Base
End of mission
Deactivated	19 August 2016[2]
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Sun-synchronous
← Formosat-1 FORMOSAT-5 →

Launch

Formosat-2 was launched on 19 May 2004, 17:47 UTC from Vandenberg Air Force Base aboard a Taurus XL rocket.^[1] It had been delivered to the United States in December 2003, and had a scheduled launch date on 17 January 2004.^[4] The launch was continually delayed until May 2004.^[5][6] Formosat-2 was decommissioned in August 2016.^[2]

See also

• Spaceflight portal

• National Space Organization
• 2004 in spaceflight