AEROSPACE
CubeSat enters phase 2
The Taiwan Space Agency on Wednesday announced that it has entered the second phase of a 10-year project to support the domestic development and launch of miniaturized satellites known as “CubeSats.” The program’s three-stage second phase, expected to last nine years, would involve building “6U” satellites, using the industry-standard scale where “1U” refers to the most basic CubeSat construction, the agency said. The first stage of the second phase would see the production and launch of 12 CubeSats each for remote sensing, communications and the Internet of Things, it said. The agency began accepting bids to build the three 6U satellite types on Thursday last week, it said, adding that each winning proposal would receive NT$145 million (US$4.56 million). Given the simple construction and low cost of lightweight CubeSats, the agency said it would be a suitable undertaking for space start-ups, particularly for low-volume manufacturers. The project aims to enhance the ability of Taiwan’s space industry to design and build satellites so that the country could play a more significant role in the global supply chain, the agency said.
MILITARY
Missing officer’s body found
An air force master sergeant who was reported missing while on a fishing trip has been confirmed dead, with his body recovered on Thursday afternoon in waters off Green Island (綠島) where he was stationed. The last known location of the master sergeant, surnamed Chang (張), 47, was a spot on Green Island known as Fanchuanbi (帆船鼻), where he reportedly went fishing, the Coast Guard Administration’s Eastern Branch said, citing a report filed by the air force after Chang failed to report for duty on Thursday morning. The air force last contacted Chang at 9pm on Wednesday and had been unable to reach him since, information provided to the coast guard said. The Coast Guard 13th Patrol Command on Thursday morning deployed Black Hawk helicopters and patrol boats to search for Chang, but found only his fishing equipment on the shore. The air force said in a statement later that day that it received a report from a local snorkeling tour operator at 1:18pm indicating that Chang’s body had been found, without providing further details. Chang’s body has been handed over to the police and an autopsy would be conducted to determine the cause of death. In the statement, the air force expressed regret over the “tragedy” and said it would provide the officer’s family with all necessary assistance in accordance with established procedure.
SOCIETY
Beef noodle contest opens
Taipei on Thursday announced the beginning of registration for the city’s annual beef noodle soup competition. Registration is to continue until Sept. 15, Taipei Deputy Mayor Lin Yi-hua (林奕華) told a news conference. Since its inception in 2005, the competition has flourished, highlighting the popularity of beef noodle soup across the nation, the Taipei Office of Commerce said. This year, the competition is divided into two separate categories: “Fresh Food,” with options such as red-braised, stewed and creative style beef noodles, and “Prepared Flavoring Packages” with red-braised and stewed variations, the Taipei Beef Noodle Interflow Development Association said. Gold, silver and bronze medals are to be awarded in the fresh food category, and a top 10 would be selected for the prepared flavoring package category, it said. The event is to run from Oct. 7 to 9 at Taipei Expo Park.
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
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