In recent years, the global space industry has entered an unprecedented period of acceleration, driven in large part by the rapid expansion of low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. Chief among them is SpaceX's Starlink network, which is swiftly reshaping the world's communications infrastructure.
As global demand for AI computing power surges, conventional ground-based data centers are increasingly constrained by limits in energy supply and cooling capacity.
Taiwan successfully launched its first FORMOSAT-8A (FS-8A) satellite, nicknamed the "Zeppelin," on November 29, accompanied by five domestically developed CubeSats that also entered orbit. The CubeSats include Bellbird-1, Black Kite-1, and TORO-2, created through the Taiwan Space Agency (TSA)'s NewSpace accelerator program by Tron Future Tech, Rapidtek Technologies, and Pyras Technology, as well as Lilium-2 and Lilium-3, jointly developed by NCKU, NTU, NTUST, and TKU, with support from the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).
SpaceX's Transporter-15 rocket carried the satellite, code-named FORMOSAT-8A (FS-8A), at 2:44 a.m. Taipei time on Nov. 29 and was deployed into its planned orbit at 5:04 a.m.
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has opened bidding for what officials say will be the country's largest military drone purchase yet, a five-model program covering 48,000 unmanned aircraft valued at up to NT$50 billion (approx. US$1.55 billion). The tender lays out technical requirements for drones to be delivered between 2026 and 2027 and signals the start of mass production for Taiwan's fast-growing defense UAV industry.
Kinko Optical signaled an ambitious push into space-related components and next-generation optics at an investor briefing on the 25th, with senior executives outlining plans to enter the US low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite supply chain and expand aggressively in infrared lenses, waveguides, and optical engines.
Data Image, Qisda Group's display subsidiary, is moving into the drone market and is preparing a new production line in Taoyuan to support growing demand. President Phil Yu said the company is developing high-brightness, ruggedized screens for drone controllers and outdoor consoles, with the line currently in trial production.
Honda, long known for its automobiles and motorcycles, is steadily extending its engineering ambitions beyond Earth's surface. Nearly a decade after the HondaJet entered commercial production in 2015, the Japanese manufacturer has marked another aerospace milestone: the successful launch and landing of a reusable micro-rocket in Hokkaido on June 17, 2025.
As low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite networks move from development into full commercial deployment, major operators are racing to expand and secure their global supply chains. Among them, Eutelsat OneWeb is deepening its footprint in Taiwan, now treating the island as an essential pillar of its worldwide ecosystem.
