TiSPACE
TiSPACE, officially Taiwan Innovative Space Inc., is a space launch company from Taiwan.[2]
Industry | Space launch |
---|---|
Founded | 2016 |
Founder | Dr. Yen-Sen Chen |
Headquarters | , |
Number of employees | 104[1] (2019) |
Website | www |
History
TiSPACE was founded in 2016 by a group of investors, scientists, and engineers led by Yen-Sen Chen who had previously worked at the NSPO and at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.[3] In 2019 they signed an MOU with National Central University to promote domestic space launch and the space technology sector. They also attended the International Astronautical Congress, a first for a Taiwanese company.[1]
Facilities
Structural dynamics tests are performed at the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering.[4]
Hot fire test facility
TiSPACE conducts engine tests at its vertical hot fire test facility.[4]
Nantian launch facility
TiSPACE’s launch facility is located in the Nantian are of Taitung county. According to TiSPACE the facility features "launch pad, launch support rail, an oxidizer filling facility, vehicle/payload assembly building, launch command center, and tracking/communication antenna."[4]
Launch vehicles
HAPITH I
HAPITH I is a two stage sub-orbital rocket designed to validate TiSPACE’s hybrid-propellant rocket system. The HAPITH I has 100% domestically sourced components.[3] Hapith is Saisiyat for flying squirrel.[1]
The first launch of the HAPITH I was scheduled for December 27, 2019 but was called off after protest from the local indigenous community. With the blessings of the community the launch was rescheduled for February 13 and was to include a Paiwan blessing of the rocket.[5] The February 13 launch was scrubbed due to weather.[6][7]
HAPITH I has three stages; the first stage has 5 motors, the second stage has 4 motors, and the third stage has a single motor. All motors are similar, having a composite outer shell with Styrene-butadiene Rubber as fuel and Nitrous oxide as oxidizer.[8]
HAPITH V
The HAPITH V is a three stage orbital rocket in development from the HAPITH I with an approximate height of 20 m, a diameter of 2.2 m, and a first stage thrust of 650 kN. The target payload is 390 kg to LEO and 350 kg to SSO. It will be TiSPACE’s first commercial offering.[9]
See also
References
- Chia-nan, Lin. "FEATURE: Firm sets sights on heavens as space industry develops". www.taipeitimes.com. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- "Taiwan's TiSPACE Enters Crowded Small Satellite Launch Market With Large Ambitions". spacewatch.global. Space Watch. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
- "About". www.tispace.com. TiSPACE. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- Hapith V Launch Vehicle Payload User’s Manual. Taiwan: TiSPACE. November 1, 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- Lee Shien-feng; Chiang Yi-ching. "Taiwan to launch first indigenous rocket Feb. 13". Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
- Chung, Jake. "Bad weather stops HAPITH-1 rocket launch". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
- Lu Tai-cheng; Chiang Yi-ching. "Launch of first indigenous rocket canceled due to bad weather". Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
- https://space.skyrocet.de/doc_lau/hapith.htm
- "HAPITH V". www.tispace.com. TiSPACE. Retrieved 17 February 2020.