FORMOSAT 2 is the second high-resolution Earth observation satellite for the Taiwanese National Space Program Office (NSPO). The mission is regional remote sensing – to collect data to be used for natural disaster evaluation, agricultural applications, urban planning strategy, environmental monitoring and ocean surveillance. In addition, the satellite’s payload will include an auroral observation instrument. FORMOSAT 2, originally called Rocsat-2, was launched on 20 May 2004, and renamed in December of that year.

Astrium was prime contractor for the space segment of the FORMOSAT 2 programme, and supplied both the platform (the first application of the company’s Leostar bus) and the on-board remote-sensing instrument RSI (the first all-silicon carbide instrument). FORMOSAT 2 was Astrium’s first Earth observation commercial export contract. Images from FORMOSAT 2 are available through Astrium Services’ GEO-Information Division.