Satellite launch vehicle self-destructs after test anomaly: NCSIST

Taipei, Aug. 19 (CNA) A satellite launch vehicle being tested for the first time self-destructed after experiencing an anomaly shortly after liftoff, Taiwan's top weapons development institute said Wednesday, but no injuries or property damage were reported.

In a statement, the state-run National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) said the test of the Taiwan-made launch vehicle was conducted Wednesday morning at its Jiupeng Base in a sparsely populated part of eastern Pingtung County.

According to the NCSIST, the rocket deviated from its intended trajectory during the initial stage of flight, prompting operators to activate its self-destruct mechanism in line with pre-established emergency procedures.

The self-destruct system kept the rocket's debris within a safe zone, the institute said.

According to firing notices issued by the NCSIST before the test, the institute had scheduled sea and air weapon firing exercises at the Jiupeng area from Aug. 19 to 21, involving artillery tests and UAS reconnaissance operations.

It was also the first time the Taiwan-developed launch vehicle was being tested. The military has previously relied on foreign-made equipment.

The firing notice had said the danger zone would extend up to 20 nautical miles (about 37 kilometers) in radius, with a maximum altitude of 100,000 feet (about 30.48 kilometers).

The NCSIST statement came after local media reported that residents near the test site saw the launch vehicle spiral out of control shortly after liftoff before crashing into an inland mountainous area, triggering alarm among nearby communities.

Following the incident, the Pingtung County government issued a statement calling on the NCSIST to immediately suspend further launch tests, review its launch procedures, and adjust future flight paths to avoid Indigenous villages and other residential communities.

The NCSIST said no injuries or property damage were reported.

It added that it will review telemetry data collected during the test and revise the vehicle's design accordingly.