TAIWAN SATELLITE PROGRAM GOING NATIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L AIT TAIPEI 000404


STATE FOR EAP/TC JULIE HUTTO, NP/ECNP CHRIS KESSLER, USDOC
FOR 3132/USFCS/OIO/EAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2014
TAGS: TSPA ETTC KSCA PREL CH TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN SATELLITE PROGRAM GOING NATIVE

REF: A. 06 TAIPEI 02379

B. 08 TAIPEI 00213

Classified By: AIT DIRECTOR STEPHEN M. YOUNG FOR REASONS 1.4 B/D


1. (C) This is an action cable. Please see para. 6



2. (C) SUMMARY. Taiwan's National Space Program Office
Director Miau Jiun-jih told us April 1 that the NSPO's
existing two satellite programs, the Formosat-2 and
Formosat-3, are continuing to operate as scheduled and have
exceeded expectations. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) has taken special interest in
Formosat-3 and has plans to cooperate with NSPO on a
follow-on Formosat-5 weather satellite to continue monitoring
the weather patterns from the upper atmosphere. Miau also
said NSPO has no plans to start any space cooperation with
the PRC without direction from the highest levels. NSPO's
long-term plans call for Taiwan to develop an indigenous
satellite and launcher for scientific use and Taiwan is very
keen for U.S. reaction to that plan. END SUMMARY .

FORMOSAT 2 AND 3 EXCEED EXPECTATIONS
--------------


2. (C) Miau told ESTH officer that Formosat-2, Taiwan's sole
remote sensing satellite, has been operating very well, and
has so far generated NT$80 million (USD 2.5 million) in
revenue for NSPO. Miau claimed the satellite's primary
function is research, and that requests for imagery from
academic institutions are free of charge. He estimated that
the satellite still had 4-5 years of useful life. The
commercial aspect of the satellite is handled through the
French firm SPOT. In 2011, a follow-on Formosat-5 is
scheduled to be launched. The F-5 will most likely use a
U.S. launcher (possibly Space-X),have a 2-meter resolution
remote sensing capability, and orbit at 720 km. Because the
remote-sensing aspect will require advanced optical imagery
acquisition systems, NSPO is hoping to have a foreign partner
to help it develop that capability. However, Miau said that
this effort has been hampered by technology transfer
concerns. NSPO has had unsuccessful discussions with ITT and
Ford Aerospace as well as Japanese and Korean firms.

NSPO AND NOAA COOPERATION
--------------


3. (C) As for Formosat-3, Miau said it is a resounding
success, and provides valuable weather data worldwide to the
scientific community. He added that NOAA has indicated it
wants to work with NSPO to develop a follow-on satellite to
monitor weather patterns from the upper atmosphere.
Formosat-3 was launched in May 2006 and is expected to
continue operating until 2013. As for a successor to
Formosat-3, Miau said NSPO will plan to launch 12, rather
than the current 6, micro-satellites. Miau said the
satellites' coverage will expand to 8,000 monitoring points
per day from the 2,000 currently scheduled. The satellites
will be able to receive GPS, Galileo and Glonass signals,
thereby improving navigation. NSPO hopes to reach 50/50 cost
sharing with NOAA for the project, which will amount to about
USD 120 million for each party.

INDIGENOUS LAUNCHER DEVELOPMENT
--------------


4. (C) Miau indicated that NSPO's next project will be a
Taiwan Small Launch Vehicle (TSLV),a locally-built launcher
that NSPO will develop with the Chung-shan Institute of
Science and Technology. The TLSV will be used to send
locally-developed 50-200kg satellites into orbit. He said a
2012 test launch is scheduled for a 50 kilogram satellite to
collect data on disaster management and environmental
observation as well as to develop payload instrumentation for
scientific research. Miau said NSPO is anxious for U.S.
views on the development of TSLV.

NO PROSPECT OF COOPERATION WITH PRC
--------------


5. (C) ESTH officer asked Miau about the possibility of
Taiwan/PRC cooperation in the space realm. Miau said
long-standing NSPO policy bars its staff from traveling to
the Mainland or from having any contact with PRC counterparts
and that policy is not likely to change barring a high-level
decision to the contrary.

COMMENT AND ACTION FOR STATE
--------------


6. (C) NSPO has long planned to develop a native launch
capability for its satellites. Because the Chung Shan
Institute of Science and Technology is an adjunct of the
Ministry of National Defense, the involvement of the military
in this project is certain to cause concerns. NSPO is aware
of U.S. sensitivity on this issue, and is keen to know what
the U.S. reaction would be if Taiwan develops a native launch
capability for its satellite program. Please advise.


YOUNG