TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tamkang University launched its third research rocket “Polaris” on Monday (Aug. 5) at 6:28 a.m.

According to a Tamkang University press release on Monday, while the rocket launched successfully, the parachute did not deploy. Tamkang University Department of Aerospace Engineering head Hsiao Fu-yuen (蕭富元) said he suspects the problem lies with the rocket’s avionics board.

The professor said the purpose of the research rocket project is to cultivate talent in space systems engineering and develop new technology. Through this project, we improved fuel usage, potentially contributing new technology to Taiwan’s future rocket development, he explained.

Project leader and aerospace engineering Professor Wang I-jen (王怡仁) said Polaris is based on the school’s previous rocket, Jessie. Polaris improves on the design by using a vibration reduction ring to limit vibrations during takeoff, he added.

Polaris weighs 58 kg, measures 3.08 m in length, and has a maximum diameter of 16.32 cm. It can reach a simulated altitude of up to 5.8 km with an average thrust of 2,765 newtons.

Based on current video and data analysis, the maximum altitude reached was about four km, per CNA.