Taiwan Space Agency Plans to Launch First Locally Built Rocket by 2034

Taiwan aims to launch its first locally built rocket into orbit by 2034, according to the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA). This announcement followed the recent launch of Formosat-8, Taiwan's first home-built optical remote-sensing satellite.

TASA is exploring opportunities for building data centers in space and has initiated a 10-year satellite payload development program that started in 2023. The agency is collaborating with 50 rocket supply chain contractors primarily located in Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung County.

The development of liquid-propellant engines poses significant challenges. The budget for the Phase III of Taiwan's space project has reached NT$70 billion (US$2.2 billion). TASA is also promoting its standardized satellite bus system and working on the Big 5G project to enhance low-Earth orbit communication capabilities. Concerns were raised about attracting talent in space technology, with suggestions to study successful models from countries like Singapore.