TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University successfully launched a rocket in Pingtung County at 6 a.m. Sunday (July 21), which reached a height of 3,000 meters, marking a new milestone for the university’s space exploration program.

Tan Zu Puayen (陳竺博淵), assistant professor of Aerospace Systems and Aerodynamics Research (ASARe), said that the launch involved three teams with a total of about 25 people working together. The Asfaloth rocket, named after the elf-horse from "The Lord of the Rings," is 5.2 m in length, 26.5 cm in diameter, and weighs 190 kg, per UDN.

Tan said the fuel loading for this test flight was only one-third of capacity, providing propulsion for about five seconds. In future launches, more fuel will be added for a full rocket launch, reaching an expected altitude of 10 km.

Wang Ming-hao (王明皓), a third-year master's student in charge of system engineering, said that the most difficult point in executing the mission was the high complexity of the rocket system. Furthermore, system integration was another difficult challenge.

The ASARe said its next flight test mission will carry a scientific payload named AsyncELF, which is expected to break the sound barrier. The university currently has three rocket teams developing different types of rockets, with one team hoping to design a rocket to reach an altitude of 100 km.

The National Science Council said Taiwan's space industry has been booming in recent years. Taiwan has many advantages in the form of strong supporting industries such as telecommunications, semiconductors, and precision machinery.

Furthermore, the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) has 30 years of experience implementing satellite programs and has fully mastered satellite development, integration testing, and control capabilities. Last year, it launched a development plan for orbital rockets, hoping to master launch technology and enhance the autonomy of satellite programs.

To provide a legal and safe rocket launch site for the domestic academic and research community, the National Science Council has set up a short-term research launch site in Pingtung.

TASA currently oversees facility management and reviews applications for its use. So far, six different rockets have been launched from this facility since it opened, with all launches carried out and executed by universities in Taiwan.