Taiwan probably lost its sole earth observing satellite

Operators of Taiwan’s FORMOSAT-2 has almost given up hopes of recovering the spacecraft from safe mode after it lost its second reaction wheel recently. FORMOSAT-2 is a locally developed high-resolution optical satellite with a 2-meter resolution.

Model of FORMOSAT-2 in NSPO, Taiwan
By SSR2000 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

It was launched into space in 2004 and the expected lifespan was five-years. Without this satellite, Taiwan will have to wait for the launch of FORMOSAT-5 this year in order to regain its in-house earth observation capability.