Taipei: Fifteen photographic images sent from the Formosat-8A (FS-8A) satellite, the first in Taiwan's Formosat-8 constellation, were released by the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) on Wednesday. These high-resolution images showcase Taiwan's changing landscape, from its newest landmarks to sites that bear the marks of natural disasters.

According to Focus Taiwan, these images include detailed views of major harbors such as Taipei Port, Taichung Port, and Kaohsiung Port, where wharves, cargo ships, and container yards are clearly visible. The FS-8A also captured the neon-orange air bridge of Terminal 3 at Taoyuan International Airport, anticipated to open to the public in 2027, as stated by TASA.

The satellite photographed several landmarks, including the Danjiang Bridge in New Taipei, Taichung Mitsui Outlet Park, and the Great Harbor Bridge in Kaohsiung. FS-8A also focused on offshore islands like Penghu, Xiao Lanyu, and Guishan Island, revealing intricate coastal contours and island terrains. In Penghu, the resolution is sharp enough to distinguish neatly arranged oyster racks and fishing nets stretching across the water.

Elsewhere, the photographs preserve traces of Taiwan's past. Subtle scars left by earthquakes are visible in an image of the Qingshui Cliffs in Hualien County, while another image captures the remains of Xiaolin Village in Kaohsiung, buried by a landslide during Typhoon Morakot in 2009.

TASA noted that the satellite can capture images at a resolution of 1 meter, which can be enhanced to 0.7 meters through processing, surpassing the imaging capabilities of its predecessor, Formosat-5. Weather remains the biggest challenge for satellite imaging, as cloud cover, particularly over northern and eastern Taiwan, can obscure the ground, as with an image of the Xiuguluan River in Hualien and Taitung Counties.

However, TASA mentioned that FS-8A's highest revisit rate could reach daily, allowing it to photograph the same location each day as it orbits Earth, increasing the likelihood of obtaining cloud-free images. FS-8A, also known as "Chi Po-lin Satellite," was named after Taiwanese documentary filmmaker Chi Po-lin, who died in a helicopter crash on June 10, 2017. It is the first satellite in TASA's planned eight-satellite Formosat-8 constellation.

The satellite was launched on Nov. 29, 2025, using a SpaceX rocket from a launch site in California and began taking images in January 2026. The eight satellites are expected to be in place by 2031, strengthening Taiwan's ability to monitor natural disasters and security threats, according to TASA.