21 Teams Advance to Finals of Taiwan Rocket Competition, Set for Launch in Xuhai in Late July
The 2026 Taiwan Cup Rocketry Competition is moving to its final stage. The National Space Organization (TASA) announced that a total of 21 teams have secured a spot in the finals. They are scheduled to conduct flight tests at the Xuhai Scientific Rocket Launch Site in late July to validate their R&D results.
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(CNA, Reporter Pan Tzu-yu, Taipei, 18th) The 2026 Taiwan Cup Rocketry Competition is about to enter its final stage. The National Space Organization (TASA) issued a press release today stating that a total of 21 teams have earned tickets to the finals and are scheduled to conduct flight tests at the Xuhai Scientific Rocket Launch Site in late July to validate their research and development achievements.
To cultivate space technology talent, promote space science education, and encourage private sector participation, TASA and the Pingtung County Government have been co-hosting the Taiwan Cup Rocketry Competition since 2025 under the guidance of the National Science and Technology Council.
Information about the 2026 Taiwan Cup Rocketry Competition was announced last October, attracting 71 teams with a total of 859 participants. In December last year, a mission plan review was conducted, selecting 27 teams with 367 members to advance and receive training. After half a year of effort, the teams presented their rocket plans to the judging committee at the second review meeting to compete for a spot in the finals.
TASA announced in a press release today that the second rocket design review was held on the 16th and 17th at National Formosa University. The judging panel selected 13 teams from the high school 1K category, 6 from the university 3K category, and 2 from the professional 3K category to advance to the finals. Notably, the high school 1K category, originally slated for 12 teams, was expanded to 13 due to a tie.
TASA stated that the Taiwan Cup Rocketry Competition is coordinated by the organizers, with the organizing unit, the Institute of Space Systems Engineering at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, planning the competition format and providing standard rocket engines and launch stands, while co-organizing units assist with reviews at each stage. Participating teams must design the rocket body, nose cone, fins, avionics, payload, and recovery mechanism. Teams must master knowledge in structures, materials, electronics, and communications, and also have cross-disciplinary project management skills and conduct risk management.
The judging panel stated that the creativity of each team was already scored in the previous review, and the focus of the second stage was on whether the teams could implement their creative ideas. The teams' simulated flight trajectories, avionics system designs, and choice of parachute types demonstrated their level of preparation and feasibility.
In addition to evaluating rocket flight performance, the judges believe that risk management is a crucial part of systems engineering. A team's ability to execute within a limited budget and schedule, and whether their staffing is appropriate, are all essential project management skills. As complex systems engineering tests teamwork, team chemistry and presentation storytelling skills were also included in the scoring criteria.
The 2026 Taiwan Cup Rocketry Competition is divided into three categories: high school 1K, university 3K, and professional 3K. Besides different flight altitudes, the 3K categories must design rockets with higher structural strength and creatively design their payloads. This year, some teams proposed impressive ideas such as real-time video transmission, an autonomous boat deploying from the nose cone for sea recovery, or launching a self-made drone.
According to the plan, the final teams must submit a launch readiness report for review in late June and will compete in a three-day final at the scientific rocket launch site in Xuhai Village, Mudan Township, Pingtung County, in late July.
TASA hopes that through the competition and course exchanges, it can create a rocket engineering training environment that combines theoretical learning, creative expression, practical operation, and teamwork, thereby enhancing the interest of students and the public in rocket technology and space engineering. (Editor: Lin Chia-hsien) 1150518
To cultivate space technology talent, promote space science education, and encourage private sector participation, TASA and the Pingtung County Government have been co-hosting the Taiwan Cup Rocketry Competition since 2025 under the guidance of the National Science and Technology Council.
Information about the 2026 Taiwan Cup Rocketry Competition was announced last October, attracting 71 teams with a total of 859 participants. In December last year, a mission plan review was conducted, selecting 27 teams with 367 members to advance and receive training. After half a year of effort, the teams presented their rocket plans to the judging committee at the second review meeting to compete for a spot in the finals.
TASA announced in a press release today that the second rocket design review was held on the 16th and 17th at National Formosa University. The judging panel selected 13 teams from the high school 1K category, 6 from the university 3K category, and 2 from the professional 3K category to advance to the finals. Notably, the high school 1K category, originally slated for 12 teams, was expanded to 13 due to a tie.
TASA stated that the Taiwan Cup Rocketry Competition is coordinated by the organizers, with the organizing unit, the Institute of Space Systems Engineering at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, planning the competition format and providing standard rocket engines and launch stands, while co-organizing units assist with reviews at each stage. Participating teams must design the rocket body, nose cone, fins, avionics, payload, and recovery mechanism. Teams must master knowledge in structures, materials, electronics, and communications, and also have cross-disciplinary project management skills and conduct risk management.
The judging panel stated that the creativity of each team was already scored in the previous review, and the focus of the second stage was on whether the teams could implement their creative ideas. The teams' simulated flight trajectories, avionics system designs, and choice of parachute types demonstrated their level of preparation and feasibility.
In addition to evaluating rocket flight performance, the judges believe that risk management is a crucial part of systems engineering. A team's ability to execute within a limited budget and schedule, and whether their staffing is appropriate, are all essential project management skills. As complex systems engineering tests teamwork, team chemistry and presentation storytelling skills were also included in the scoring criteria.
The 2026 Taiwan Cup Rocketry Competition is divided into three categories: high school 1K, university 3K, and professional 3K. Besides different flight altitudes, the 3K categories must design rockets with higher structural strength and creatively design their payloads. This year, some teams proposed impressive ideas such as real-time video transmission, an autonomous boat deploying from the nose cone for sea recovery, or launching a self-made drone.
According to the plan, the final teams must submit a launch readiness report for review in late June and will compete in a three-day final at the scientific rocket launch site in Xuhai Village, Mudan Township, Pingtung County, in late July.
TASA hopes that through the competition and course exchanges, it can create a rocket engineering training environment that combines theoretical learning, creative expression, practical operation, and teamwork, thereby enhancing the interest of students and the public in rocket technology and space engineering. (Editor: Lin Chia-hsien) 1150518