Flight computer, just like the human brain, is the control center of the satellite operation. It's an export-controlled item of international space technology and a critical technology controlled by the global satellite system manufacturer as well. The flight computer of FORMOSAT-5 was co-developed by 40 experts from the NARL's National Space Organization (NSPO) and Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology (CSIST) with different expertise in electrical, mechanical, quality assurance, thermal control, manufacturing, assembly, and testing.
The flight computer of FORMOSAT-5 was co-developed by the NARL-NSPO and CSIST in Taiwan.
This flight computer is 100 per cent designed, manufactured, assembled, and tested by the Taiwan team. After more than 150 times of technical discussions, over 200 items of design changes and many technical breakthrough design items, the first space-grade flight computer has been designed and manufactured in 2 years. This accomplishment represents a significant milestone that ushers in a new era for our self-reliant space technology development.
Redundant cross-strapped modules are adopted in order to promote the computer's reliability. Analyses showed that the computer's reliability can still reach 94% after 5 years of operation in space. The flight computer is also equipped with software change capability, which means that flight software can be updated on orbit if need be to promote the satellite's capability.
The computing capability, the communicating speed between the modules, the uplink and downlink transmission rates, and the reliability has reached the international space requirements compared to those manufactured by Astrium of EADS, ThalesAlenia in France, and SAAB in Sweden.
The design of FORMOSAT-5 flight computer can meet the minimum computation capability of 10 MIPS and data transmission rate of 2 Mbps required by sub-meter resolution remote sensing satellites.
In application respect, the design of FORMOSAT-5 flight computer can meet the requirements of satellites with scientific payloads demanding high data rate, scientific and remote sensing satellites demanding precise pointing, and satellites accommodating 6 scientific payloads. To put it in a nut shell, its reliability and capabilities can meet the mission requirements of NSPO's satellites for the next 10 years.
The NARL-NSPO will continue to impROVe the design to reduce the weight and volume by 40%, to reduce the power consumption by more than 30%, to reduce its production cost and to increase the lifetime to at least 7 years to meet the future goal of 200 kg level satellite market and to promote its competitiveness in the world market.
