Rocsat launched

Taiwan's first satellite, the TRW-built Rocsat 1, was launched on 27 January by a Lockheed Martin Athena 1 booster from Spaceport Florida's commercial launch pad at Cape Canaveral. The $100 million, 400kg (880lb) craft will conduct communications technology experiments and monitor the earth's environment from its 600km orbit. Taiwan has ordered a second Rocsat spacecraft from Germany's DaimlerChrysler Aerospace. It will be launched in 2002.

Source: Flight International