TiSPACE


TiSPACE, officially Taiwan Innovative Space Inc., is a space launch company from Taiwan.

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. 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.

Facilities

Structural dynamics tests are performed at the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering.

Hot fire test facility

TiSPACE conducts engine tests at its vertical hot fire test facility.

Namten launch facility

TiSPACE’s launch facility is located in the Namten are of Pingtung 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."

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. Hapith is Saisiyat for flying squirrel.
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. The February 13 launch was scrubbed due to weather.

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.