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The National Space Organisation of Taiwan is inviting proposals for launch services for its upcomming Formosat-5 bird.

The fixed-price contract will encompass the services necessary to launch the satellite, along with related equipment and support.

Formosat-5 is the centrepiece of NSPO's Second Phase Space Program (2004~2018), which aims to develop an indigenous capacity to build and operate a micro-satellite.

According to information in the tender documents, Formosat-5 will have a mass of 525 Kg at launch. It will carry a panchromatic sensor and a four-band Landsat-like multi-spectral radiometer. The pan sensor will have a resolution of 2 metres; the MSS will give 4 metres. This is a step up from previous satellites in the Formosat series, but not as good as the imagery available from commercial US satellites.

The launch vehicle must carry Formosat-5 into a 720 km sun synchronous polar orbit, inclined at 98.28 degrees. NSPO will then adjust the Satellite from the parking orbit to the mission orbit.

The launch is slated for 2013.

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