Australia Approves Luanch of Made-in-Taiwan "HAPITH I" Rocket  獲澳洲政府批准 "飛鼠一號"將在南澳升空

After over a year's delay, the plan to launch the first-ever rocket designed by a Taiwanese private firm has been resumed. But the location has been changed from Taitung to Australia. Some believe it is due to the fact that Taiwan's regulations regarding rocket launch remains unclear.

In February 2020, plans were underway to launch the first-ever rocket designed by a private firm in Taiwan, named the HAPITH I, from Taitung. However, the weather did not cooperate and the launch was ultimately canceled.

Chen Yen-sen (Feb. 13, 2020), Chairperson, Taiwan Innovative Space Inc.:” Rockets that launch satellites are different from ordinary sounding rockets. They fly a trajectory that you specify, so if the wind shear factor is too strong, they will definitely deviate.”

The launch was postponed until recently, and some information emerged. The Australian government posted on its official website that it has given regulatory approval for Taiwan Innovative Space Inc. to conduct a commercial launch of the HAPITH I. The launch will take place at the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. Although no date was announced, the launch is expected to take place within the next several months. Meanwhile, Taiwan Innovative Space is planning on bringing the manufacturing of complete rocket systems to Australia.

Shen Pi-shu (April 16, 2020), Director, Land Administration Dept., Taitung County:” There might have been some repercussions from the implementation of some measures, so in principle we're still waiting for confirmation from the authorities.” 

The original launch was supposed to take place in Taitung County. Land usage disputes occurred in 2019 and 2020, and the relevant regulations were unclear. The launch was therefore repeatedly postponed. Now, it is set to take place overseas after receiving approval from the Australian government. Taiwan is more densely populated compared to Australia, so there needs to be careful consideration if Taiwan sets up launch sites in the future

去年2月，由晉陞太空科技，所打造的台灣民間第一枚自製火箭「飛鼠一號」，原本要在台東發射，但很可惜最後因為天氣不佳、無法順利升空。

晉陞太空科技董事長 陳彥升 (2020.2.13)：「發射衛星的火箭，跟一般的探空火箭不一樣，它是按著你設計的一條軌跡在飛的，所以你按照這個軌跡在飛的時候，你如果風切的因素太大的話，一定會偏離掉。

發射計畫延宕至今 近日自澳洲傳來好消息，澳洲政府在官網公告，「飛鼠一號」已經被核准，將在南澳洲、艾爾半島的威爾斯灣發射台升空，雖然沒有確定日期，但預定是未來幾個月發射，而且晉陞也在考慮要把火箭系統的製造過程、搬到澳洲執行。

台東縣地政處長 沈碧恕 (2020.4.16) ：「有一些措施執行可能會有一些後遺症，所以原則上我們還是會等中央目的事業主管機關確認。」

「飛鼠一號」的原定台東的發射地點，在2019、2020年期間，陸續出現用地爭議，但當時的相關規範並不明確，因此時程一延再延。如今移轉到海外進行，也獲得澳洲政府核准，對比台灣和澳洲，台灣人口密集度相對較高，未來國內的發射場設立與否，也得有更周延考量。