Name: Formosat-1 — Athena I
Start: 1999-01-27T00:34:02Z
End: 1999-01-27T00:34:02Z
Location: Space Launch Complex 46

Question 1

What rocket is launching Formosat-1?

Accepted Answer

Formosat-1 is launching on the Athena I.

Question 2

Who is launching Formosat-1?

Accepted Answer

Formosat-1 is being launched by Lockheed Martin, a commercial launch provider founded in 1953.

Question 3

Where is Formosat-1 launching from?

Accepted Answer

Formosat-1 is launching from Space Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA.

Question 4

What orbit is Formosat-1 heading to?

Accepted Answer

Formosat-1 is heading to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Question 5

Is the Athena I reusable?

Accepted Answer

No — the Athena I is an expendable launch vehicle.

Question 6

How many times has the Athena I flown?

Accepted Answer

The Athena I has launched 4 times to date, with 3 successful flights.

Question 7

What is the Formosat-1 mission?

Accepted Answer

The mission objective of ROCSAT-1 (Republic of China Satellite 1) is to develop, launch, and operate a low earth orbit satellite, and to conduct three scientific and technology experiments in the areas of ocean color imaging, space telecommunication, and solar-terrestrial physics.

Question 8

Where is Cape Canaveral Space Force Station?

Accepted Answer

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station sits on Florida's Atlantic coast, on the Eastern Range run by the U.S. Space Force's Space Launch Delta 45. It is the United States' busiest launch site and has been America's gateway to orbit since the 1950s.

Question 9

Which rockets launch from Cape Canaveral?

Accepted Answer

SpaceX flies Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40, and United Launch Alliance flies the Vulcan Centaur (and the retiring Atlas V) from Space Launch Complex 41.

Question 10

Is Cape Canaveral the same as the Kennedy Space Center?

Accepted Answer

No. Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center are separate, neighbouring sites — Kennedy is on Merritt Island just to the north. Together they make up Florida's 'Space Coast'.

Question 11

Why do rockets launch from Cape Canaveral?

Accepted Answer

Its pads sit on the Eastern Range, letting rockets fly east out over the Atlantic toward the equatorial and geostationary orbits most commercial and national-security payloads need, away from populated land.

Question 12

Can you watch a launch from Cape Canaveral?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the Space Coast is one of the easiest places in the world to watch a launch from public land. Popular free spots include Playalinda Beach, Space View Park in Titusville, and Jetty Park at Port Canaveral.

Formosat-1

Overview

Mission details

Launch Window

Space Launch Complex 46

Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Frequently asked questions