# FORMOSAT-7 > joint U.S.-Taiwanese research satellite constellation **Wikidata**: [Q15927648](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15927648) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COSMIC-2) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/formosat-7 ## Summary FORMOSAT-7 is a joint U.S.-Taiwanese research satellite constellation primarily designed to monitor weather and climate. Classified as a weather satellite, it comprises six individual satellites working together. ## Key Facts * FORMOSAT-7 is a joint U.S.-Taiwanese research satellite constellation. * It is classified as a weather satellite, designed to monitor weather and climate. * The constellation consists of six satellites: FORMOSAT-7-1, FORMOSAT-7-2, FORMOSAT-7-3, FORMOSAT-7-4, FORMOSAT-7-5, and FORMOSAT-7-6. * It was launched on June 25, 2019, from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A. * The launch vehicle used was a Falcon Heavy, provided by SpaceX. * The total mass of the six satellites is 278 kilograms. * Operators include the Taiwan Space Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. * Manufacturers are the Taiwan Space Agency and Surrey Satellite Technology. ## FAQs ### Q: What is FORMOSAT-7? A: FORMOSAT-7 is a joint U.S.-Taiwanese research satellite constellation. It is designed as a weather satellite to monitor weather and climate conditions. ### Q: When was FORMOSAT-7 launched? A: FORMOSAT-7 was launched on June 25, 2019. The launch took place from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A. ### Q: Who operates FORMOSAT-7? A: FORMOSAT-7 is operated by the Taiwan Space Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It was manufactured by the Taiwan Space Agency and Surrey Satellite Technology. ### Q: What is the purpose of FORMOSAT-7? A: The primary purpose of FORMOSAT-7 is to monitor weather and climate. It functions as a weather satellite constellation for research. ### Q: How many satellites are in the FORMOSAT-7 constellation? A: The FORMOSAT-7 constellation consists of six individual satellites: FORMOSAT-7-1, FORMOSAT-7-2, FORMOSAT-7-3, FORMOSAT-7-4, FORMOSAT-7-5, and FORMOSAT-7-6. ## Why It Matters FORMOSAT-7 holds significance as a collaborative U.S.-Taiwanese research satellite constellation dedicated to weather and climate monitoring. As a weather satellite, it plays a crucial role in collecting atmospheric data vital for meteorological forecasting and climate studies. The information gathered by FORMOSAT-7 contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of global atmospheric conditions, which can lead to improved accuracy in weather predictions and enhanced climate models. Its joint development and operation underscore international cooperation in space research, combining expertise from the Taiwan Space Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. By providing continuous observations, FORMOSAT-7 assists scientists and meteorologists in tracking changes in weather patterns and climate trends, ultimately supporting disaster preparedness and environmental management worldwide. ## Notable For * Being a joint U.S.-Taiwanese research satellite constellation. * Its classification as a weather satellite, specifically designed for monitoring weather and climate. * Comprising six distinct satellites (FORMOSAT-7-1 through FORMOSAT-7-6) within a single constellation. * Its launch aboard a Falcon Heavy vehicle by SpaceX. ## Body ### Overview FORMOSAT-7 is a joint U.S.-Taiwanese research satellite constellation. It is an instance of a spacecraft constellation and is classified as a weather satellite, specifically designed to monitor weather and climate. The constellation is also known by its aliases, including COSMIC-2, FORMOSAT 7, COSMIC 2, フォルモサット7号, 福卫七号, 福卫7号, and 福衛七號. ### Components The FORMOSAT-7 constellation is composed of six individual satellites: * FORMOSAT-7-1 * FORMOSAT-7-2 * FORMOSAT-7-3 * FORMOSAT-7-4 * FORMOSAT-7-5 * FORMOSAT-7-6 The total mass for these six satellites is 278 kilograms. ### Launch Details FORMOSAT-7 was launched on June 25, 2019. The launch originated from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A. The launch vehicle utilized for this mission was the Falcon Heavy, provided by the launch contractor SpaceX. This rocket launch was a significant event for the constellation. ### Operators and Manufacturers The operators of FORMOSAT-7 include the Taiwan Space Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The manufacturing of the constellation was a collaborative effort between the Taiwan Space Agency and Surrey Satellite Technology. The countries of origin for the project are Taiwan and the United States. ### Technical Specifications * **Mass**: 278 kilograms (for 6 satellites) * **Instance of**: Spacecraft constellation * **Subclass of**: Weather satellite * **Launch Vehicle**: Falcon Heavy * **Launch Date**: 2019-06-25 * **Launch Site**: Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A ## Schema Markup ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "name": "FORMOSAT-7", "description": "Joint U.S.-Taiwanese research satellite constellation designed to monitor weather and climate.", "url": "http://www.nspo.narl.org.tw/en2016/projects/FORMOSAT-7/program-description.html", "sameAs": [ "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COSMIC-2" ], "additionalType": "https://schema.org/Satellite", "alternateName": ["COSMIC-2", "FORMOSAT 7", "COSMIC 2", "フォルモサット7号", "福卫七号", "福卫7号", "福衛七號"], "dateCreated": "2019-06-25", "manufacturer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Taiwan Space Agency" }, { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Surrey Satellite Technology" } ], "operator": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Taiwan Space Agency" }, { "@type": "Organization", "name": "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration" } ], "image": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/FORMOSAT-7.jpg" } ## References 1. Jonathan's Space Report 2. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2019-036L)