National Launch Site
The National Launch Site is a spaceport planned by the Taiwan Space Agency. It will be located in Pingtung County and is expected to be completed in the 2030s. The spaceport is planned to incorporate tourist attractions as well as a rocket launch site.[1]
History
[edit]The National Launch Site is part of an Executive Yuan plan to develop Taiwan's satellite industries. The Taiwan Space Agency says the site will "promote the development of space technologies and industries" and train "space talents."[2] The Taiwanese government views direct access to space as essential to preserving Taiwan's sovereignty.[3]
Taiwan's government announced regulations for the site in 2022.[1] Selection was tightened and promised by the end of 2024.[4] In 2025 TASA announced its selection of Manzhou township (滿州) in Pingtung country as the National Launch Site's location.[5] The decision came down to Manzhou and Dajen township in Taitung County.[6] Within Manzhou township the site would be located in Jiupeng village.[7]
A sounding rocket launch complex in Pingtung was inaugurated in 2025 as part of the National Launch Site project.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Thomson, Jono (March 26, 2025). "Pingtung selected for Taiwan's national spaceport". Taiwan News.
- ^ "TASA | National Launch Site". www.tasa.org.tw. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
- ^ CHAU, THOMPSON. "Taiwan eyes first rocket launch site and Amazon satellite collaboration". asia.nikkei.com. Nikkei Asia Review. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
- ^ Strong, Matthew. "Taiwan to pick rocket launch site by end of 2024". taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
- ^ Yun-jung, Tsai; Yeh, Esme. "US eyes Taiwan space partnership". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
- ^ "NSTC announces Pingtung site as Taiwan's space mission launch center". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
- ^ Chuang, Bryan; Wang, Kevin. "Taiwan finalizes selection for national rocket launch site". digitimes.com. Digitimes. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
- ^ Tsung-hsien, Tsai; Hetherington, William. "Rocket research site inaugurated". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 July 2025.