TASA's first self-developed sounding rocket, Island Vein MARAHO, completed its debut flight on August 22, 2026, launching from Syuhai, Pingtung, reaching Mach 1.2 at 8.1 kilometers, and confirming full ground-to-rocket communications, though the rocket body was not recovered from the sea.
What did TASA's first autonomous rocket launch achieve, and how was it reported?
TASA's first self-developed sounding rocket, Island Vein MARAHO (「島脈MARAHO」), completed its debut flight test on the morning of August 22, 2026 CITE:E1CITE:E11. The National Space Organization (TASA) reported that the rocket completed ignition, flight, and parachute deployment, and finished full-flight communications verification CITE:E1CITE:E11. Central News Agency (中央社) carried the report under dispatch number 1150822, credited to editor Chang Chun-mao (張均懋) CITE:E15.
What is Island Vein MARAHO, and what were its original name and technical specs?
Island Vein MARAHO was originally designated SR400 before TASA adopted its current name CITE:E3. TASA said the rocket series exists to progressively validate propulsion, structure, avionics, communication, and recovery designs toward the goal of carrying a 200-kilogram-class payload into low Earth orbit CITE:E3. The name MARAHO comes from the Papilio maraho, a Taiwan-endemic species often called the "national butterfly" (國蝶), whose distinctive broad red tail markings inspired the rocket body's visual design CITE:E9. The rocket body measures 7.2 meters in length and 0.4 meters in diameter, with a hybrid propulsion system combining 90% hydrogen peroxide and polypropylene (PP) CITE:E9.
When and where did the launch happen, and what flight parameters were achieved?
MARAHO lifted off at 7:10 a.m. on August 22, 2026, from the Syuhai Scientific Research Rocket Launch Site in Pingtung (屏東旭海) CITE:E4CITE:E12. TASA reported that all flight procedures were completed as planned and the data required for this flight test was successfully obtained CITE:E4CITE:E12.
| Flight parameter | Value |
|---|
| Launch time | 7:10 a.m., August 22, 2026 |
| Launch site | Syuhai Scientific Research Rocket Launch Site, Pingtung |
| Propulsion duration | 18 seconds |
| Liftoff thrust | 1,500 kgf |
| Maximum speed | 408 meters/second (Mach 1.2) |
| Time to reach maximum altitude | 49 seconds |
| Maximum altitude | 8.1 kilometers |
| Total flight time | 432 seconds |
Which subsystems did this flight test validate?
TASA said the mission's key objective was establishing a full ground-to-rocket communications system capable of receiving downlinked flight data in real time CITE:E7. TASA conducted flight validation on its self-developed propulsion, structure, avionics, communication, tracking, ground support, and recovery subsystems, with the resulting flight data to serve as the basis for design improvements and the next flight test phase CITE:E7.
How successful was the full-flight communications and data return?
TASA confirmed that all flight data needed for this test was successfully transmitted to the ground station during the flight, so the main flight-test verification data was not affected CITE:E8CITE:E14. TASA reported that the rocket deployed its two-stage parachute system as planned during the final flight phase and splashed down in the ocean, after which the recovery team conducted a sea search CITE:E8CITE:E14. TASA said high waves and continued drifting of the rocket body ultimately prevented the team from completing recovery of the rocket body CITE:E8CITE:E14.
What did TASA's director and government leaders say about the mission?
TASA director Wu Tsung-hsin (吳宗信) reported the flight test and verification results to National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文), who also serves as TASA chairman, after MARAHO's successful flight CITE:E5. Wu Tsung-hsin said the MARAHO mission demonstrated that TASA's young team can execute a complete end-to-end task spanning rocket design, manufacturing, assembly, integration testing, and flight testing CITE:E6. Wu Tsung-hsin said repeated flight tests that validate key technologies, rehearse mission procedures, and build team experience can lower the risk of subsequent large-rocket development and progressively strengthen TASA's capability for autonomous orbital rocket research CITE:E6.
What is TASA's roadmap for orbital rocket development going forward?
TASA launched its orbital rocket program in 2023 under the guidance of the National Science and Technology Council, with a target of achieving autonomous orbital capability by 2034 CITE:E2. TASA plans to validate the rocket's subsystems with a first-generation Suborbital Test Vehicle (STV1) in 2029, then validate the complete vehicle with a second-generation Suborbital Test Vehicle (STV2) in 2031 CITE:E10CITE:E13.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|
| 2023 | Orbital rocket program launched under NSTC guidance |
| 2029 | First-generation Suborbital Test Vehicle (STV1) validates subsystems |
| 2031 | Second-generation Suborbital Test Vehicle (STV2) validates complete vehicle |
| 2034 | First orbital rocket flight test, targeting a 200-kilogram-class payload to low Earth orbit |
TASA said it will conduct the first-generation orbital rocket flight test in 2034, targeting delivery of a 200-kilogram-class payload into low Earth orbit, to progressively build Taiwan's autonomous space-access capability CITE:E10CITE:E13.
Taken together, the evidence TASA and Central News Agency reported shows a program built on staged validation rather than a single launch: MARAHO's 18-second, 432-second-total flight confirmed communications and subsystem data even though the rocket body itself was lost at sea CITE:E8CITE:E14, and that data now feeds directly into a fixed sequence — STV1 in 2029, STV2 in 2031, and the first orbital attempt in 2034 CITE:E10CITE:E13 — that traces back to the 2023 program start CITE:E2.