台湾以 Formosat-8 首颗卫星进入倒数，计划于本周在美国加州 Vandenberg Space Force Base 以 SpaceX Falcon 9 于原定因美国政府停摆而延后后的时间，即周五凌晨 2:18（台湾时间）发射。整体星座规模为 8 颗光学遥测卫星，旨在强化高解析度影像能力。政府同时推动南部屏东发射场，目标于 2034 年以前将 200 公斤级卫星送轨。TASA 亦将 LEO 通讯计划定位为 Beyond 5G，并以 2022 年推出的 CubeSat Program 扩大低成本实验性任务参与度。
英国合作同步推进。2023 年 Eutelsat OneWeb 与中华电信签署多百万美元合作案，以强化台湾在外部通讯上对海底电缆的备援。SAC 执行长 John Abbott 与英国太空总署首席科学家 Adam Amara 于 9 月访台推动产业连结。外部智库认为此合作可补足台湾被排除于全球太空论坛之外的资讯缺口，使通讯、标准与操作更可与他国互通，并增强面对中国压力下的韧性，包括在海事监测、海缆破坏风险与周边军事动态上的资讯获取。
TASA 主张 Formosat-8A 具有 84% 零组件由国内自行或协同研制，整合 20 家制造商与 33 个跨部门伙伴，作为建立自主设计、操作、维持长期星座能力的基础。台湾政府将太空视为安全、创新与经济成长核心领域，计划发展下一代中低轨通讯卫星并深化太空产业供应链。无论遥测或通讯系统，皆被视为未来灾害应变、基础设施保全与国安技术（含无人机与机器人）的关键支柱。
Taiwan advances toward deployment of its Formosat-8 constellation, with the first satellite scheduled for launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base on a SpaceX Falcon 9 at 2:18 a.m. Friday (Taiwan time) after delays linked to the U.S. government shutdown. The eight-satellite optical remote-sensing system targets higher-resolution imaging, while a domestic launch site in Pingtung aims to place 200-kg-class satellites into orbit by 2034. Taiwan’s TASA is also building a Beyond-5G LEO communications program and expanding low-cost experimental missions through the CubeSat Program launched in 2022.
UK collaboration accelerates these ambitions. In 2023, Eutelsat OneWeb and Chunghwa Telecom signed a multimillion-dollar agreement to strengthen redundancy beyond submarine cables. A UK delegation including SAC CEO John Abbott and UK Space Agency chief scientist Adam Amara visited Taipei in September to deepen industrial ties. Analysts describe the partnership as a remedy to Taiwan’s exclusion from major global space forums, improving interoperability, communications resilience, and situational awareness amid Chinese pressure, including maritime monitoring and protection against undersea cable sabotage.
TASA notes that 84% of components for Formosat-8A were locally developed, involving 20 manufacturers and 33 partners, forming the basis for independent design, operation, and long-term constellation sustainment. Taiwan’s leadership frames space as central to security, innovation, and growth, committing to next-generation medium- and low-orbit communications satellites and a strengthened industrial supply chain. Both remote-sensing and communications systems are positioned as critical to disaster response, infrastructure protection, and national-security technologies including drones and robotics.