Taiwanese Company Seeks to Launch Rocket from Japan

2024-08-06

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1
  • A Taiwanese business is seeking to become the first foreign company to launch a rocket from Japan.
  • 2
  • The planned launch comes as Japan keeps on a path to invest $26 billion in its space agency over the next 10 years.
  • 3
  • The idea is to create a space hub for other nations in Asia.
  • 4
  • The private Taiwanese company is called TiSpace.
  • 5
  • It was started in 2016 by current and former officials from the country's space agency.
  • 6
  • It has not yet completed a successful rocket launch.
  • 7
  • TiSpace's most recent launch attempt came in 2022.
  • 8
  • The effort was in cooperation with Australian company AtSpace.
  • 9
  • The launch attempt failed because of a fuel-related issue.
  • 10
  • The rocket to be launched in Japan is a different design.
  • 11
  • There has been some opposition in Japan to the country's plans to contract with foreign businesses for space activities.
  • 12
  • But TiSpace chairman Yen-sen Chen told Reuters he thinks the planned launch should make "a very good case" for Japan's government.
  • 13
  • Chen said his company was waiting on one last government approval before the rocket launch can be set.
  • 14
  • The launch will involve a sounding rocket that could happen by early 2025.
  • 15
  • A sounding rocket can fly to space but does not reach orbit.
  • 16
  • Some industry experts have suggested that China could oppose the launching of a Taiwanese rocket from Japan.
  • 17
  • China claims Taiwan as its own territory.
  • 18
  • But Chen said he had not yet heard any concerns from China.
  • 19
  • A representative from China's foreign ministry told Reuters it did not have detailed information about the planned rocket launch.
  • 20
  • In Japan, the government's Cabinet Office said "free economic and research activities are guaranteed in Japan" within the structure of the country's existing laws and regulations.
  • 21
  • TiSpace is the only Taiwanese company seeking rocket launches in Japan.
  • 22
  • One of the company's other co-founders, Wu Jong-shinn, is currently head of Taiwan's space agency.
  • 23
  • Agency officials had no comment on TiSpace's plans and said all its launch services are carried out through government contracts.
  • 24
  • The company's launch plans have won support among some Japanese space businesses, especially in the rural town of Taiki.
  • 25
  • That is where TiSpace's launch will take place.
  • 26
  • Space officials and industry experts say it is a good thing that Japan is inviting foreign companies to use its space services.
  • 27
  • Yuko Nakagawa is a ruling-party lawmaker who represents Taiki and neighboring communities.
  • 28
  • She said she sees the TiSpace project as "a symbol of Taiwan-Japan friendship."
  • 29
  • She noted that the addition of more international businesses to the area can help create a large space complex to serve a number of nations.
  • 30
  • Japanese officials have said they want the country's private space industry to be worth more than $50 billion by the early 2030s.
  • 31
  • The space program could include up to 30 rocket launches a year.
  • 32
  • Reuters reported that Japan is negotiating a space technology agreement with the United States that could open the door for private American rocket launches in Japan.
  • 33
  • I'm Bryan Lynn.
  • 1
  • A Taiwanese business is seeking to become the first foreign company to launch a rocket from Japan.
  • 2
  • The planned launch comes as Japan keeps on a path to invest $26 billion in its space agency over the next 10 years. The idea is to create a space hub for other nations in Asia.
  • 3
  • The private Taiwanese company is called TiSpace. It was started in 2016 by current and former officials from the country's space agency. It has not yet completed a successful rocket launch.
  • 4
  • TiSpace's most recent launch attempt came in 2022. The effort was in cooperation with Australian company AtSpace. The launch attempt failed because of a fuel-related issue. The rocket to be launched in Japan is a different design.
  • 5
  • There has been some opposition in Japan to the country's plans to contract with foreign businesses for space activities. But TiSpace chairman Yen-sen Chen told Reuters he thinks the planned launch should make "a very good case" for Japan's government.
  • 6
  • Chen said his company was waiting on one last government approval before the rocket launch can be set. The launch will involve a sounding rocket that could happen by early 2025. A sounding rocket can fly to space but does not reach orbit.
  • 7
  • Some industry experts have suggested that China could oppose the launching of a Taiwanese rocket from Japan. China claims Taiwan as its own territory. But Chen said he had not yet heard any concerns from China.
  • 8
  • A representative from China's foreign ministry told Reuters it did not have detailed information about the planned rocket launch.
  • 9
  • In Japan, the government's Cabinet Office said "free economic and research activities are guaranteed in Japan" within the structure of the country's existing laws and regulations.
  • 10
  • TiSpace is the only Taiwanese company seeking rocket launches in Japan. One of the company's other co-founders, Wu Jong-shinn, is currently head of Taiwan's space agency. Agency officials had no comment on TiSpace's plans and said all its launch services are carried out through government contracts.
  • 11
  • The company's launch plans have won support among some Japanese space businesses, especially in the rural town of Taiki. That is where TiSpace's launch will take place.
  • 12
  • Space officials and industry experts say it is a good thing that Japan is inviting foreign companies to use its space services.
  • 13
  • Yuko Nakagawa is a ruling-party lawmaker who represents Taiki and neighboring communities. She said she sees the TiSpace project as "a symbol of Taiwan-Japan friendship." She noted that the addition of more international businesses to the area can help create a large space complex to serve a number of nations.
  • 14
  • Japanese officials have said they want the country's private space industry to be worth more than $50 billion by the early 2030s. The space program could include up to 30 rocket launches a year.
  • 15
  • Reuters reported that Japan is negotiating a space technology agreement with the United States that could open the door for private American rocket launches in Japan.
  • 16
  • I'm Bryan Lynn.
  • 17
  • Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English.
  • 18
  • _________________________________________
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  • Words in This Story
  • 20
  • hub - n. a place that is the center of a particular activity
  • 21
  • regulation - n. an official rule meant to control an activity or process
  • 22
  • symbol - n. a sign or object that is used to represent something