The China Post
Date: August 20, 2016
By: Jason I-je Hsieh, Special to The China Post
TAIPEI, Taiwan — The Formosat-2, Taiwan’s first Earth observation satellite, has been
A picture taken by the Formosat-2, the nation’s first telemetry satellite, is seen in this photo provided by the National Space Organization on Friday, Aug. 19. (CNA)
decommissioned after 12 years of service — seven years longer than it was designed to survive.
The satellite, which lost the ability to adjust its camera’s angle and position after a malfunction in June, completed its final communication with the control center Friday.
Launched in May 2004, the satellite took roughly 2.55 million pictures during its lifetime, according to the National Space Organization (NSO).
The group made contact with the satellite twice a day throughout the 12 years, NSO Director Chang Guey-shin (張桂祥) said.