Taiwan’s First Moon Probe Launched Aboard SpaceX Rocket in Historic Mission
Taiwan’s first ever lunar probe was launched into space as part a larger moon landing organized by Japanese startup Ispace Inc. Taiwan’s probe was designed to study the conditions in space between the Earth and Moon, with the aim of making future deep space missions safer. It was launched from Kennedy Space center in the U.S. state of Florida on a SpaceX rocket.
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A Japanese start-up’s lunar lander carrying Taiwan’s first-ever moon probe was launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking a historic step for both companies. The lander, named Resilience and built by Tokyo-based company Ispace, aims to become Asia’s first privately developed spacecraft to reach the lunar surface.
At National Central University’s (NCU) Space Science and Engineering Department in Taoyuan, students and professors cheered as they watched the live broadcast of the rocket’s liftoff. Their excitement was personal — the department designed and built the Taiwanese payload on board.
The Deep Space Radiation Probe (DSRP), mounted on the exterior of Resilience, is tasked with collecting vital data on between Earth and the moon. The probe measures radiation exposure and other environmental factors crucial to ensuring spacecraft durability and astronaut safety on long-duration missions. This data is expected to contribute to the development of more resilient spacecraft and aid future human exploration of deep space.
"We had a smooth launch the first time, which is very nice. It doesn’t always happen the first time," said Loren Chang, chair of NCU’s Space Science and Engineering Department.
Chang said the launch is just the beginning of the mission. The Resilience lander is expected to take roughly four months to reach the moon. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s DSRP is already active, collecting data since the moment the lander separated from the rocket.
For Ispace, this mission is a second chance. The company’s first lunar attempt in 2023 ended in disappointment when its lander crashed during descent. This time, hopes are high that Resilience will live up to its name.
As Taiwan’s space ambitions rise alongside those of private companies like Ispace, this mission represents a breakthrough. It positions the country on the global stage of space exploration and contributes to the growing international push toward sustainable deep-space travel.
