Taiwan will launch it’s first domestically-made rocket -- HAPITH-I -- on February 13 in Southeast Taiwan’s Taitung County. The launch will take place on indigenous Liubetj tribe ground, where locals will bless the craft. The Liubetj tribe agreed to the launch site after extensive negotiation and coordination.
TiSPACE, the company that developed HAPITH-I, originally planned to launch the rocket from Taitung on December 27 last year. However, failure to properly communicating the terms of the launch to the Liubetj people resulted in a lengthy dispute. After communicating with tribe leaders, TiSPACE obtained approval to launch their rocket.
TiSPACE says that HAPITH-I will launch on Thursday at 6:00 AM.
The rocket is already at the launch site and is currently undergoing pre-launch procedures. HAPITH-I is expected to ascend for 10 minutes at speeds in excess of 250 km/hr. If successful, HAPITH-I will set a world record for being the first hybrid-propellant rocket to reach an altitude of 200 kilometers. HAPITH-I reportedly costs one-tenth of a traditional rocket.