Taiwan's Foxconn launches satellites on SpaceX rocket | Taiwan News | May. 4, 2026 11:10

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- Foxconn launched two second-generation satellites into low Earth orbit on Sunday, marking a major step in its push into the space industry, per CNA

The satellites, Pearl-1A and Pearl-1B, were successfully deployed from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Foxconn said both satellites have reached their designated orbits and will conduct inter-satellite communication tests over the next five years. The mission highlights the company's ambition to expand beyond its traditional role in electronics manufacturing, per a press release.

Both satellites feature a 6U XL CubeSat design and are tasked with verifying payload technologies for inter-satellite communication. Compared to the first-generation Pearl satellite, which focused on satellite-to-ground communication and system validation, the new satellites carry a Ka-band inter-satellite link payload.

In addition to enabling broadband communication between satellites and ground stations, the pair will conduct docking and transmission verification tests. They will also operate alongside a small ionospheric probe to monitor the space communication environment.

Foxconn said these efforts will help improve its capabilities in beam planning and constellation design for satellite communication networks, strengthening future applications in the sector.

The Foxconn Research Institute oversaw the development of second-generation satellite systems, as well as on-orbit control and data verification. A first-generation satellite completed its initial mission phase in January, allowing the team to gain experience in orbital control using receiving stations in Taiwan and Europe, per the press release.

Foxconn added that its satellite control center in Taipei's Neihu District carried out continuous daily experiments during the earlier two-year mission, collecting valuable operational data. The satellites integrate Foxconn-developed camera payloads alongside internal and external components. Lessons from the first-generation satellite enabled the research team to optimize system performance for the second generation.

The company said it will continue advancing toward vertical integration by increasing component self-sufficiency to boost industrial competitiveness. It emphasized that the Pearl program aims to build practical on-orbit experience and enhance system integration capabilities for future satellite generations.

With the deployment of Pearl-1A and Pearl-1B, Foxconn said it will accelerate efforts to develop applications, including mobile communication support, direct-to-cell connectivity, remote area networking, industrial Internet of Things services, and backup communications for critical sites.