Researchers from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University’s Advanced Rocket Research Center (ARRC) yesterday successfully tested the second-stage propulsion system of a domestically designed rocket.
Minister of Science and Technology Wu Cheng-chung (吳政忠) lauded the test of the HTTP-3A sounding rocket’s propulsion system, saying it demonstrated the integration of industry and academia in Taiwan at a time when the global space industry is developing.
The test, which was originally scheduled for May 3, began at 6:12am yesterday, with the rocket launching from Syuhai Village (旭海) in Pingtung County’s Mudan Township (牡丹).
Photo provided by the National Space Center
According to the initial flight plan, the 4.8m, 365kg rocket was to lift off vertically for five seconds before arcing out over the sea, when its engine would shut off after 60 seconds and a drogue parachute would deploy after 90 seconds.
Then, after reaching a lower altitude, it would release a second parachute and land in the sea, having reached an altitude of 12km during an eight to 10-minute flight.
Yesterday’s launch fell short in that regard, as the rocket stayed in the air for two minutes and reached a maximum altitude of about 3km, but it was nevertheless “99 percent successful,” the ARRC said.
Photo: Tsai Tsung-hsien, Taipei Times
The launch tested the rocket’s hybrid propulsion system — which uses a mix of liquid and solid-state propellants — navigation system, ground controls, recovery parachute and launch preparations, it added.
The hybrid-fuel sounding rocket does not need navigation assistance to guide its flight, ARRC director Wei Shih-hsin (魏世昕) said, adding that after vertical takeoff the rocket can adjust its flight path, thrust magnitude and thrust vector by itself.
“The HTTP-3A is the world’s first hybrid rocket with guidance and control technology. Although it is not capable of flying very high, it represents a major technological breakthrough,” he said.
The launch allowed the team to test its self-developed, six degrees of freedom mission-analysis simulator, called ZIYASim, he said, adding that it was the first successful rocket launch at the launch site.
“It was much hotter than in May when we were first scheduled to launch, making it a harsher work environment, but the team lived up to expectations,” he said. “The team showed that ZIYASim achieves great accuracy, and all of the data we gathered will be used for the next stage as we move toward launching satellites.”
The media’s reporting of the launch since May has focused attention on Taiwan’s domestic space industry, and the Ministry of Science and Technology’s support made it possible to ensure that the launch site and facilities were ready in just one month, he added.
Additional reporting by CNA
NETWORK-MAPPING PROJECT: The database contains 170 detailed files of Taiwanese politicians and about 23 million records of household registration data in Taiwan China has developed a network-mapping project targeting political figures and parties in Taiwan to monitor public opinion during elections and to craft tailored influence campaigns aimed at dividing Taiwanese society, according to documents leaked by Chinese technology firm GoLaxy (中科天璣). The documents, collected by Taipei-based Doublethink Lab, showed a database was specifically created to gather detailed information on Taiwanese political figures, including their political affiliations, job histories, birthplaces, residences, education, religion and a brief biography about them. Several notable Taiwanese politicians are in the database, including President William Lai (賴清德), former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍),
RECOGNITION: Former Fijian prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry said that Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy serves as a stabilizing force in the Indo-Pacific region Taiwan can lead the unification of the Chinese people, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Polish president Lech Walesa said in Taipei yesterday, adding that as the world order is changing, peaceful discussion would find good solutions, and that the use of force and coercion would always fail. Walesa made the remarks during his keynote address at a luncheon of the Yushan Forum in Taipei, titled “Indo-Pacific Partnership Prospects: Taiwan’s Values, Technology and Resilience,” organized by the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Walesa said that he had been at the forefront of a big peaceful revolution and “if
UPGRADED MISSILE: The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology is reportedly to conduct a live-fire test of the Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missile on Thursday next week The US Army is planning to build new facilities to boost explosives production and strengthen its supply chain, a move aimed at addressing munitions shortages and supporting obligations to partners including Taiwan, Ukraine and Israel, Defense News reported. The army has issued a sources sought notice for a proposed Center of Excellence at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky, the report said. The facility would serve as a hub within the US industrial base for the production of key military explosives, including research department explosives (RDX) and high melting explosives (HMX), while also supporting research and development of next-generation materials. The proposed
SOUTH KOREA DISPUTE: If Seoul continues to ignore its request, Taiwan would change South Korea’s designation on its arrival cards, the foreign ministry said If South Korea does not reply appropriately to a request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, the government would take corresponding measures to change how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. Taipei has asked Seoul to change the wording. Since March 1, South Koreans who hold government-issued Alien Resident Certificates (ARC) have been identified as from “South Korea” rather than the “Republic of Korea,” the
RSS