National Space Organization's First Technology Verification Sounding Rocket Expected for Test Flight in Second Half of Year
Taiwan's National Space Organization has completed engine tests for its first technology verification sounding rocket, SR400, with a test flight planned for the second half of the year. Taiwan aims to launch satellites into orbit with indigenous rockets by 2034, and the organization has also announced a shift from hybrid to liquid fuel for its orbital rockets.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 10:53
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chao Min-ya, Taipei, 1st) Taiwan is striving to achieve the mission of launching satellites into orbit with indigenous rockets by 2034. The National Space Organization announced that the engine tests for its first technology verification sounding rocket, SR400, have been completed, and a test flight is scheduled for the second half of the year at the Xuhai Scientific Research Rocket Launch Site. Through small-scale test flights, the organization aims to confirm the maturity of the rocket's structure and avionics technology.
To strengthen Taiwan's space autonomy, the National Space Organization launched the orbital rocket program in 2023, aiming to build an indigenous rocket 25 to 28 meters long, scheduled to launch 200-kilogram class satellites into orbit by 2034.
The National Space Organization currently plans a series of technology verification rocket test flights. Among them, the engine tests for the first technology verification sounding rocket, SR400, have been completed, and a test flight is expected in the second half of the year at the Xuhai Scientific Research Rocket Launch Site.
The National Space Organization explained on its Facebook social media yesterday that orbital rocket development relies on extensive experiments and analytical verification designs. The establishment of relevant methods requires actual flight experience and data as a basis. Sounding rockets have higher safety and lower costs, making them suitable for structural design and manufacturing process verification. At the same time, they train personnel through repeated test flight missions, allowing the team to practice procedures, accumulate experience, and continuously refine technology.
The National Space Organization introduced that the SR400 hybrid-fueled sounding rocket is a technology verification platform. SR stands for Sounding Rocket, and the number 400 represents the rocket's diameter of 400 millimeters. They jokingly added, "It's a very engineer-style code name, and we're thinking about whether to have a cooler name."
The National Space Organization stated that on the test day, April 1st, dozens of people gathered early in the morning at the National Space Organization's test site in Changhua Coastal Industrial Park to begin preparation procedures such as oxidizer filling and pressurization. The test was completed at 3 PM, with the engine burning stably for 20 seconds and producing nearly 1800 kilograms of thrust. This was the second test of the SR400 engine, which corrected previous issues and achieved the test objectives.
At the same time, the National Space Organization pointed out that the team has modified the engine system design for the orbital rocket. Originally, hybrid fuel was used, but now it has been changed to a liquid-fueled rocket engine.
The National Space Organization explained that liquid-fueled engines are the mainstream for orbital rockets worldwide. The system is complex and dangerous, especially liquid oxygen-fueled liquid rocket engine systems, for which Taiwan has no relevant research and development experience. At the beginning of planning the orbital rocket program, solid-fueled rockets were not considered an option because they cannot be re-ignited or precisely adjusted in attitude after liftoff.
Based on existing R&D experience, the National Space Organization decided to adopt hybrid fuel. At that time, simulation analysis showed that hybrid fuel had development potential, and there was no clear research indicating it was unsuitable for orbital rockets. As research and experiments progressed, it gradually became clear that the initial simulation evaluation calculations did not fully cover relevant parameters and margins. Although hybrid-fueled rockets could launch satellites into orbit, the payload capacity was smaller, unable to achieve the goal of launching a 200-kilogram payload into orbit.
The National Space Organization noted that in August 2024, it was decided to switch to liquid fuel for the orbital rocket's engine system. The revised plan was submitted to the National Science and Technology Council and the Executive Yuan for approval as part of the new "Phase 3 Space Technology Long-term Development Program" and officially approved in October of the following year.
The National Space Organization stated that hybrid fuel can still play an important role as a verification platform in the early stages of orbital rocket development. Through small-scale suborbital test flights, the maturity of various key components and technologies can be confirmed. In addition, the SR400 can also be used for high-altitude scientific exploration missions and even has the potential for further extended applications, developing into an orbital rocket booster. (Editor: Lin Shu-yuan) 1150501
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(Central News Agency reporter Chao Min-ya, Taipei, 1st) Taiwan is striving to achieve the mission of launching satellites into orbit with indigenous rockets by 2034. The National Space Organization announced that the engine tests for its first technology verification sounding rocket, SR400, have been completed, and a test flight is scheduled for the second half of the year at the Xuhai Scientific Research Rocket Launch Site. Through small-scale test flights, the organization aims to confirm the maturity of the rocket's structure and avionics technology.
To strengthen Taiwan's space autonomy, the National Space Organization launched the orbital rocket program in 2023, aiming to build an indigenous rocket 25 to 28 meters long, scheduled to launch 200-kilogram class satellites into orbit by 2034.
The National Space Organization currently plans a series of technology verification rocket test flights. Among them, the engine tests for the first technology verification sounding rocket, SR400, have been completed, and a test flight is expected in the second half of the year at the Xuhai Scientific Research Rocket Launch Site.
The National Space Organization explained on its Facebook social media yesterday that orbital rocket development relies on extensive experiments and analytical verification designs. The establishment of relevant methods requires actual flight experience and data as a basis. Sounding rockets have higher safety and lower costs, making them suitable for structural design and manufacturing process verification. At the same time, they train personnel through repeated test flight missions, allowing the team to practice procedures, accumulate experience, and continuously refine technology.
The National Space Organization introduced that the SR400 hybrid-fueled sounding rocket is a technology verification platform. SR stands for Sounding Rocket, and the number 400 represents the rocket's diameter of 400 millimeters. They jokingly added, "It's a very engineer-style code name, and we're thinking about whether to have a cooler name."
The National Space Organization stated that on the test day, April 1st, dozens of people gathered early in the morning at the National Space Organization's test site in Changhua Coastal Industrial Park to begin preparation procedures such as oxidizer filling and pressurization. The test was completed at 3 PM, with the engine burning stably for 20 seconds and producing nearly 1800 kilograms of thrust. This was the second test of the SR400 engine, which corrected previous issues and achieved the test objectives.
At the same time, the National Space Organization pointed out that the team has modified the engine system design for the orbital rocket. Originally, hybrid fuel was used, but now it has been changed to a liquid-fueled rocket engine.
The National Space Organization explained that liquid-fueled engines are the mainstream for orbital rockets worldwide. The system is complex and dangerous, especially liquid oxygen-fueled liquid rocket engine systems, for which Taiwan has no relevant research and development experience. At the beginning of planning the orbital rocket program, solid-fueled rockets were not considered an option because they cannot be re-ignited or precisely adjusted in attitude after liftoff.
Based on existing R&D experience, the National Space Organization decided to adopt hybrid fuel. At that time, simulation analysis showed that hybrid fuel had development potential, and there was no clear research indicating it was unsuitable for orbital rockets. As research and experiments progressed, it gradually became clear that the initial simulation evaluation calculations did not fully cover relevant parameters and margins. Although hybrid-fueled rockets could launch satellites into orbit, the payload capacity was smaller, unable to achieve the goal of launching a 200-kilogram payload into orbit.
The National Space Organization noted that in August 2024, it was decided to switch to liquid fuel for the orbital rocket's engine system. The revised plan was submitted to the National Science and Technology Council and the Executive Yuan for approval as part of the new "Phase 3 Space Technology Long-term Development Program" and officially approved in October of the following year.
The National Space Organization stated that hybrid fuel can still play an important role as a verification platform in the early stages of orbital rocket development. Through small-scale suborbital test flights, the maturity of various key components and technologies can be confirmed. In addition, the SR400 can also be used for high-altitude scientific exploration missions and even has the potential for further extended applications, developing into an orbital rocket booster. (Editor: Lin Shu-yuan) 1150501
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.