The FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 (Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate) is an international collaboration between Taiwan and the United States. During August 17-18, the NARL’s National Space Organization (NSPO) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) conducted a review meeting at the NARL-NSPO to define its mission. 

The FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 will use a constellation of twelve remote sensing microsatellites to collect atmospheric data for weather prediction and for ionosphere, climate and gravity research. FORMOSAT-7 will establish operational mission of near real-numerical weather prediction. It will collect 8000 (threshold) profiles per day. The NARL-NSPO will design, procure, and integrate 12 spacecrafts and integrate the GNSS payload provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The satellite will have GPS, GALILEO and GLONASS tracking capability. The NOAA will procure the launch vehicles. The first launch of six satellites is planned for 2014, the second launch will take place in 2017. The review meeting was also attended by the representatives from the JPL and Aerospace Corporation of the United States; and the Central Weather Bureau, the NARL’s Taiwan Typhoon and Flood Research Institute (TTFRI) and the academy of Taiwan.