iST Establishes Asia’s Most Comprehensive Space Environment Testing Center

Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C., (September 10, 2024) – With the advent of the new space age and the rise of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, the demand for commercial testing and verification has surged. To support domestic and international companies looking to enter this field and enhance product competitiveness, Integrated Service Technology Inc. (iST, TWSE: 3289), a leading IC analysis and verification laboratory in the electronics industry, announced today (September 10) the establishment of a Space Environment Testing Laboratory. This facility will offer a one-stop solution for critical environmental and reliability tests required from ground rocket launches to space, including vibration, shock, thermal vacuum, and radiation tests. The laboratory is expected to be fully operational by October.

iST Chairman, Danny Yu declared, “iST is committed to investing resources to establish the most comprehensive third-party space environment testing center in Asia.”

According to Jack Tseng, Deputy General Manager of iST’s Space Environment Testing Engineering Division, major companies like SpaceX, OneWeb, Telesat, and Amazon are actively deploying low-orbit satellites, while many Asian countries are also pursuing satellite programs. Taiwan’s Phase 3 “National Space Technology Development Long-term Plan” has allocated over NT$40 billion to develop low-orbit communication satellites, plan national launch sites, and cultivate talent. The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) estimates that by 2030, 1,700 satellites will be launched annually worldwide, creating an output value of at least $400 billion. The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) of the United States projects that the global space economy could surpass $1 trillion by 2040, with the satellite industry accounting for up to 88% of this, reaching $925.2 billion.

Tseng further noted that as early as 2020, iST was invited by the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) to join the “Taiwan Space Radiation Environment Testing Alliance” to jointly promote and establish space radiation testing and verification capabilities in Taiwan. In 2021, in collaboration with the alliance, iST completed the first radiation testing services for Taiwan’s image sensor and memory module manufacturers.

After years of diligent effort, iST has completed dozens of radiation testing cases through the existing “Radiation Testing Alliance,” including analog, digital, memory, and RF electronic components.

In addition to radiation testing, iST continues to invest in research on vibration, shock, and thermal vacuum tests for space environments. The establishment of the Space Environment Testing Laboratory, expected to open in October, will significantly enhance the volume of space environment tests in Asia. This will provide more localized testing and verification services for satellite manufacturers, assisting domestic and international companies in space environment testing. This enables companies to focus more on product design and manufacturing, accelerating the development of the space industry in Taiwan and across Asia.