13.07.2025

A Taiwanese-made rocket was launched at the Hokkaido Spaceport in Taiki Town, Hokkaido, on Saturday, but it stopped flying during the ascent and did not reach its planned altitude of 100 kilometers.

The 12-meter, two-stage rocket lifted off at around 11:40 a.m. It was manufactured by a Taiwanese company.

According to the company that manages the spaceport, the rocket stopped flying during its ascent.

The company said the first stage of the rocket was confirmed to have separated, but the flight of the second stage was suspended later.

Footage taken by NHK shows the second stage of the rocket continuing its flight while rotating and falling.

Police say no injuries have been reported.

The launch was performed by a foreign company in the same group as the Taiwanese manufacturer of the rocket.

Quelle: NHK

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Taiwan rocket crashes shortly after Japan launch

A Tispace rocket in Japan. (Facebook, TiSPACE photo)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A rocket made by a Taiwanese company crashed shortly after its launch from the Japanese island of Hokkaido, reports said Saturday.

The aim of the project had been to reach the Karman Line, an imaginary line 100 kilometers above sea level seen as the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space, the Liberty Times reported. The rocket was made by Tispace Inc., based in Miaoli, and its Japanese subsidiary, Jtspace.

The rocket took off from Hokkaido Space Port at 11:40 a.m. local time, but it was soon seen drifting, with smoke escaping. Footage of the launch was shown by NHK News on its website.

Nobody was reported injured in the incident, and the rocket was not carrying any payload. The first launch of a foreign-made rocket from Hokkaido served to test its engine’s capabilities, the report said.

A successful journey to the Karman Line would have meant that Taiwanese satellites would no longer have to depend on foreign-made rockets.

Quelle: Taiwan News