Taiwan’s satellite captures high-resolution earth images

Japanese startup ArkEdge Space revealed on Friday that it helped build an observation satellite for Taiwan’s space agency that has captured what may be the highest-quality Earth imagery from a spacecraft smaller than a suitcase. The optical satellite, ONGLAISAT, took 2.5-metre resolution images after being launched into orbit around 400 km above Earth in December.

Takayoshi Fukuyo, ArkEdge’s CEO, described the clarity of the images as comparable to aerial photography, despite the satellite’s small size. Black-and-white photos, including those of Seattle suburbs and Argentina’s Patagonia, were released showing impressive detail. The satellite, co-developed with the University of Tokyo, mounts Taiwan’s space agency’s optical equipment onto a compact cubesat.

ONGLAISAT’s mission will conclude in early March, but the optical technology demonstrated during the mission will contribute to future satellite projects. Taiwan, keen to strengthen its space infrastructure amid rising tensions with China, is also progressing with other space ventures, including weather satellites and satellite internet collaborations with Amazon’s Kuiper. Additionally, Taiwan’s space agency has deepened partnerships with Japanese space companies like Space One and ispace.