An Advanced Ionospheric Probe (AIP), developed by the National Central University (NCU), was presented at press conference on January 27, 2015. As a secondary payload of FORMOSAT-5, AIP will provide the highest spatial resolution of ionospheric parameters in the world and also benefit the forecast of earthquake research and space weather monitoring.

Advanced Ionospheric Probe (AIP) is the first domestically made science payload to be flown with FORMOSAT-5.

AIP is an all-in-one plasma sensor with the sampling rate up to 8,192 Hz to measure ionospheric plasma concentrations, velocities, temperatures, and ambient magnetic fields over a wide range of spatial scales.  With the comprehensive data set available from the AIP, scientists are able to conduct a systematic examination of the longitudinal, latitudinal, and seasonal variations in the topside F region plasma parameters.  The data can be used not only for space science studies but also for predicting the seismic precursors associated with strong earthquakes and co-seismic effects.

Advanced Ionospheric Probe (AIP) on the top of FORMOSAT-5.

AIP is the first domestically made science payload to be flown with FORMOSAT-5. AIP has been fully qualified by NSPO for space mission which marks an important milestone for space science development in Taiwan.