FORMOSAT-9A

Vega-C is set to launch FORMOSAT-9A from Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, on December 31, 2028 at 12:00 AM UTC, with Avio S.p.A as the launch provider. The Vega-C launch vehicle will carry the FORMOSAT-9A mission, which is scheduled to deliver an Earth science payload into a Sun-Synchronous Orbit. Avio S.p.A will oversee the launch of the Vega-C rocket, ensuring the successful deployment of the FORMOSAT-9A satellite. The launch of FORMOSAT-9A by Vega-C from Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, is a key event in the mission timeline.

The payload on board the FORMOSAT-9A mission is an X-band SAR Earth observation satellite, which will operate in a Sun-Synchronous Orbit, allowing it to maintain a consistent viewing angle of the Earth's surface. The Sun-Synchronous Orbit is targeted to enable the satellite to collect data at a consistent local time, facilitating the observation of Earth's surface features. Vega-C, provided by Avio S.p.A, will play a crucial role in delivering the FORMOSAT-9A satellite to its intended orbit, where it will utilize its X-band SAR capabilities to conduct Earth observation activities, with the launch provider ensuring the successful insertion of the satellite into its operational orbit.