While Taiwan’s 2m ground resolution Formosat 5 is due for its launch in early 2016 on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle, Taiwan’s National Space Programme Office has given out some details of its future Earth observation spacecraft. Under current plans, Taiwan will launch optical Earth observation spacecraft which will have a ground resolution of 0.7m. The radar satellite it is planning will use an X-band radar capable of a ground resolution of better than 1m. Both types of spacecraft will operate from Sun-synchronous orbits. No details of the launch dates have been revealed but are likely to be launched after 2019 the necessary technology has been developed.
