Roome Mishra
Taiwan’s private funded 2016 rocket startup grabs Japan’s attention as the latter looks into planning for a space hub. A Taiwanese startup plans to launch a rocket from Japan by early next year, aiming to be the first foreign firm to do so. Industry advocates say this will help Tokyo become a leading space hub in Asia.
The private firm wad co-founded in 2016 by current and former officials from Taiwan’s space agency. However, it has not yet achieved a successful launch. Its latest attempt in 2022, conducted by its sister company AtSpace in Australia, failed due to an oxidizer leak. The rocket set to be tested in Japan has a different design.
Taiwanese Rocket Startup TiSpace faces regulatory hurdles
The planned suborbital launch by TiSpace has encountered regulatory hurdles and delays, raising questions about whether Japan should incorporate overseas businesses to double its 4 trillion yen ($26 billion) space industry over the next decade.
“This (planned launch) should be a very good case for the Japanese government,” TiSpace chairman Yen-sen Chen told Reuters in an interview. “If that goes smoothly, then you will attract more customers from other countries.”
The firm is awaiting one final regulatory approval, a radio permit, to launch its 12-meter (39 ft) sounding rocket, which they hope to achieve by early 2025. A sounding rocket can reach space but does not achieve orbit.
Japan supports and China wary of the TiSpace launch
Some analysts suggest that launching a Taiwanese rocket in Japan could attract China’s attention, given its claim over Taiwan and its close monitoring of the island’s missile technology developments. However, TiSpace chairman Chen reported that he has not encountered any concerns about this issue so far.
Japan’s Cabinet Office said “free economic and research activities are guaranteed in Japan within the scope of laws and regulations”. An official from Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Japan met with TiSpace in March 2023 in what the embassy called a “courtesy visit” but the embassy declined to comment further, saying the launch was a private-sector matter.
On the other hand, China foreign ministry is in complete contrast to Japan’s sentiments. China’s foreign ministry said it was “not aware of the relevant circumstances” of the launch.
TiSpace is the sole Taiwanese company pursuing rocket launches. One of its co-founders, Wu Jong-shinn, now leads Taiwan’s space agency. The agency declined to comment on its connection with TiSpace, stating that all its launch services are handled through public tender.
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