Home / Space Project / Active Programs / TRITON
Program Description
TRITON (Wind-Hunter Satellite) is a satellite of about 250kg, designed and manufactured by TASA. TRITON carries the Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R), independently developed by TASA, to collect the GNSS signal reflected by the earth surface. Its mission is to conduct researches on air-sea interaction, and typhoon intensity prediction. Taiwan is greatly affected by typhoons every year, the information of sea wave height and sea surface wind speed, retrieved from the reflected signal, are useful for the research on typhoon intensity and path prediction.
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To support TRITON mission, the GNSS-R data processing module is a combined efforts of TASA, Central Weather Bureau (CWB), and domestic academic teams, which will be performed by the Taiwan RO Processing System (TROPS) to provide users the sea surface wind data. In addition, TASA cooperates with the academic and research community to study the application of sea surface reflection signal data in meteorological numerical models, which is helpful for forecasting severe weather and reducing uncertainty in disaster warning.
The TRITON satellite will be launched on an Arianespace Vega C rideshare mission. The orbit is a circular low earth orbit within the altitude around 550~650km and the inclination angle of about 98 degree.
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2023
June - To hold Pre-Shipment Review meeting (as planned)
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2022
September - Completion of separation/shock test
August - Completion of acoustic test and vibration test
June - Completion of solar array installation/test
May - Completion of satellite to/from the Satellite Operation Control Center end-to-end test
April - Completion of satellite Operation Readiness Review (ORR)
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2021
December - Completion of validation of the operation interfaces between satellite and the Satellite Operation Control Center
September - Completion of satellite system-level electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test
August - Completion of satellite system-level bus and payload antenna patterns measurement
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2020
November - Completion of 3rd annual GNSS-R mission payload airborne test (air-naval joint-observation)
September - Completion of 2nd annual GNSS-R mission payload airborne test (air-naval joint-observation)
July - Completion of 1st annual GNSS-R mission payload airborne test
July - Completion of satellite mission scenario test
March - Effectiveness of launch service contract
January - Effectiveness of launch & in-orbit insurance contract
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2019
December - Sign of launch & in-orbit insurance contract
November - Sign of launch service contract
April - Completion of GNSS-R mission payload flight model acceptance test
January - Completion of the 1st satellite Comprehensive Performance Test (CPT)
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2017
December - Completion of Integration and Test Readiness Review (ITR)
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2015
November - Completion of Critical Design Review (CDR)
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2014
June - Completion of Preliminary Design Review (PDR)
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2013
May - Completion of System Design Review (SDR)
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The 2nd annual GNSS-R airborne test The 3rd annual GNSS-R airborne test
Satellite
Similar to FORMOSAT-7, the TRITON satellite bus is a cube with a deployable solar panel at single side. Several critical components, flight software and payload instrument developed by TASA will be integrated for in orbit validation.
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The fundamental information of TRITON is:
| BUS | cube shape, single deployable solar panel |
|---|---|
| DIMENSION | 100 x 120 x 125 cm3 |
| MASS | ~250 kg |
| COMMUNICATION | S-band, 32kbps uplink, 2Mbps downlink |
| PAYLOAD | memory≧2Gbits，mass≦8kg, power≦10W |
| ORBIT | 550~650km，inclination≈98° |
Payload
The core technology of GNSS-R is based on an indigenous space grade GPS receiver. One direct signal and eight reflected GNSS signals can be received and processed simultaneously in GNSS-R. In addition, the GNSS source is programmable.
Except GNSS-R instrument, the system includes a high gain antenna, a low noise amplifier and a multi-channel RF front end. All component developments and verifications are completed, and are integrated onto satellite.
Besides hardware development, TASA also working along with academic team to promote GNSS-R researches and applications in order to benefit weather forecast and disaster prevention.
▲ GNSS-R
Indigenous Components
Inside the TRITON satellite, several critical components are developed by TASA. Including the Onboard Computer (OBC), the Power Control Unit (PCU), the GPS Receiver (GPSR) and the Fiber Optic Gyro (FOG).
