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進入《TAIPEI TIMES》No injuries reported from explosion of test rocket
A satellite launch vehicle falls from the sky after self-destructing near the Jioupeng Base in Pingtung County this morning. Photo courtesy of a member of the public
Staff writer, with CNA
A satellite launch vehicle being tested for the first time was detonated after an anomaly shortly after liftoff, but no injuries or property damage were reported, the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology said in a statement yesterday.
The test of the Taiwan-made launch vehicle was conducted yesterday morning at the institute’s Jioupeng Base （九鵬基地） in a sparsely populated area of eastern Pingtung County.
The rocket deviated from its intended trajectory during the initial stage of flight, prompting operators to activate its self-destruct mechanism in line with established emergency procedures, it said.
The destruction of the rocket confined the debris to a safe zone, it said.
Notices issued by the institute before the test said that it had scheduled sea and air weapon firing exercises at the Jioupeng area from yesterday to tomorrow, including artillery fire and uncrewed aircraft system operations.
The notice said the danger zone covered an area within a 20 nautical mile （37km） radius, with a maximum altitude of 100,000 feet （30.48km）.
It was the first time the Taiwan-developed launch vehicle had been tested.
The institute issued the statement after Chinese-language media reported that residents near the test site saw the craft veer off course shortly after launch before crashing into a mountainous area, raising concern among nearby communities.
The Pingtung County Government in a separate statement called on the institute to immediately suspend launch tests, review its launch procedures, and adjust future flight paths to avoid indigenous villages and other residential areas.
The institute said no injuries or property damage were reported.
It would review telemetry data collected during the test and revise the vehicle’s design accordingly, it said.
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
