Taiwan-made satellite launcher fails first test, triggers missile panic
Taiwan’s first test of a locally developed satellite launch vehicle failed on Wednesday after the rocket veered off course, terrifying nearby villagers who mistook it for an incoming missile. The rocket was launched at around 6am local time from the Jiupeng missile testing base in southern Pingtung county. The base is operated by the government-backed National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and…
Taiwan's first attempt to launch a domestically developed satellite rocket on Wednesday ended in failure when the vehicle veered off course and crashed into a mountainous region. The rocket was launched from the Jiupeng missile testing base in southern Pingtung county at around 6am local time. Villagers mistook the incident for the launch of a missile, causing panic among residents.
The NCSIST, Taiwan's top weapons developer, clarified that the test was actually an experimental satellite launch vehicle and not a missile. An anomaly in the rocket's initial trajectory led to the self-destruct mechanism being activated. No casualties or property damage were reported. However, the incident has raised concerns about the safety of missile tests near populated areas.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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