▲From tricycles to liftoffs—Professor Jong-Shinn Wu’s rocket journey proves that with passion, teamwork, and belief, even the impossible can take flight.
In the summer of 2025, a dazzling arc streaked across the sky above Xuhai of Pingtung—that was the scene of the first “Rocket Taiwan Cup” finals. Outstanding victory from 15 competing teams was the “What a Nasty Feeling” team, formed by students from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University’s “NYCU UAV Team” and from National United University. Based on mechanical engineering, integrated with flight control and system integration, they leveraged their drone autorecovery system technology to clinch the championship in the college group.
This victory is not merely a triumph in a technical competition; it stands as the best validation of hands-on education. From rocket design and navigation modules to launch simulations and recovery system integration, students had to roll up their sleeves and collaborate interdisciplinarily to accomplish this mission. This process epitomizes the fruits of NYCU’s long-term commitment to cultivating systems engineering education and advancing rocket research and development.
From the campus to national strategy, the journey of the rocket experiment has been initiated by one of the key figures, Professor Jong-Shinn Wu at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of NYCU, and the current Director of the Taiwan Space Agency. Yet he consistently emphasizes: “Students are the true fuel of rocketry.”
As early as 2012, Jong-Shinn Wu established the Advanced Rocket Research Center (ARRC) at NYCU (formerly National Chiao Tung University). At that time, Taiwan had yet to establish rocket regulations, and resources were scarce. He led students in building rockets from scratch in a near-vacuum environment. Without a dedicated launch site, they secretly transported their self-made launch pad to a coastal vacant lot using a tricycle. Lacking professional equipment, they could only resort to outdated methods to come up with solutions. The explosion in testing, the failure to deploy parachutes, and the shattered glass —all these failure experiences became a valuable lesson, serving as the most direct training in engineering ethics and teamwork.
More importantly, such programs take students out of the classroom, allowing them to experience firsthand the journey of challenges and breakthroughs, and discover their own potential and passion along the way. For Jong-Shinn Wu, the sparkle in his students’ eyes when a rocket lifts off is the greatest motivation driving his unwavering commitment to space education and research.
“Rockets aren’t just a ‘technical’ issue, but an ‘integration’ issue, and even a ‘belief’ issue,” said Jong-Shinn Wu.
Rocket Taiwan Cup: Building a Mission-Driven Educational Arena for Students
The concept for the 2025 Rocket Taiwan Cup originated from the mission-oriented thought of the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA). Jong-Shinn Wu pointed out that while TASA is a legal entity, it also shoulders national responsibilities. One of its key missions is to establish an arena for student practice and innovation by simplifying and modularizing space missions.
“We break down real space missions into technical levels that college students can handle. This not only makes technology more accessible but also allows innovation to take root and talent to be cultivated. I believe this is one of the most important values of a university—enabling students to create something tangible.”
This is why the Rocket Taiwan Cup is specifically centered on designing a mission-driven approach. Participating teams must complete the entire process—from design and manufacturing to flight simulation and recovery, etc—creating a miniature replica of a real rocket mission.
Rockets have thus become the most comprehensive STEM educational environment. From mechanical, electrical engineering, materials, chemical engineering, information technology, mathematics and physics, communications, flight control simulation, to project management, a single rocket mission often requires mobilizing teams of over a dozen, even twenty members. Through division of labor, collaboration, and cross-disciplinary integration, the essence of “systems thinking” is realized. Jong-Shinn Wu emphasizes: “Rockets serve as an excellent scientific tool, offering students a powerful feedback mechanism. They provide immediate confirmation: you got it right, or you got it wrong. It helps students understand how the knowledge they acquire will play a role in future industries.”
From the Educational Arena to National Strategy: The Rocket’s Pivotal Role
Jong-Shinn Wu frankly stated that although rockets account for only about 2-3% of the entire space industry, they hold irreplaceable strategic value, as they serve as the gateway to space; they are the “key” to the space industry. Taking Taiwan as an example, it has already developed solid capabilities in satellite research and development, as well as data application. For instance, the meteorological satellite “FORMOSAT-7” receives weather data daily from its orbit at approximately 40 degrees north and south latitude. Within 30 minutes, it transmits this data back to TASA and the Central Weather Administration (CWA), effectively improving weather forecast accuracy by about 6–10%.
Currently, among more than 200 countries worldwide, only nine possess rocket technology, enabling independent access to space. While Taiwan has developed satellite research, development, and application capabilities, it still relies heavily on U.S. rockets for launches. This means the critical launch vehicles are not under our control, posing potential risks to national sovereignty and mission execution. Jong-Shinn Wu further emphasized: “Our satellites are fine, data applications and ground receiving equipment are stable. The only missing piece is the rocket. Without rockets, we cannot freely access space.” If Taiwan can independently design, manufacture, and launch rockets, it would gain the entry ticket into the space technology ecosystem, becoming a space-faring nation.
“You have rockets, you have satellites—that’s what makes you a powerful country for space,” Jong-Shinn Wu emphasized. In his view, rockets are not merely practical tools for on-site education; they represent the threshold of national sovereignty and serve as a language for international dialogue.
Rockets: The Key to Unlock Academic, Industrial, and Sovereign Advancement
For Jong-Shinn Wu, “rocket education” has never been merely an engineering issue; it is about educating “people”. He frankly said that his own journey through industrial entrepreneurship, failure, and eventual return to academia has made him acutely aware of the innovation drain caused by the disconnect between academia and industry. As a result, he is dedicated to transforming space technology into tangible, achievable missions for students, enabling talents to bridge the gap between their academic years and future industries from the very start.
“What we need are not just technically skilled individuals, but people willing to step outside their comfort zones, recognize societal needs, and boldly bridge imagination with practical implementation,” he stated. Under this philosophy, the rocket became a symbol: a key unlocking the connection between academia and industry; a key for training cross-disciplinary talents; and most crucially, a key unlocking Taiwan’s space sovereignty and international vision.
The 2025 Rocket Taiwan Cup is more than just a competition. It is an experiment in collaboration between inside and outside systems, a practical application of educational philosophy, and the starting point for a national strategy. Jong-Shinn Wu believes these seemingly “rocket-playing” initiatives are actually a challenge and response to the education system—giving students opportunities to personally participate in national-level missions, creating intersections between knowledge and practice, and ensuring that technological innovation transcends lab papers to address national needs and global aspirations.
This rocket dream, launched from NYCU, is gradually becoming a reality in Taiwan’s skies.
And this key──is continuously built and steadily given by NYCU.
NYCU Elite: https://elite.nycu.edu.tw/
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Interview | Yen-Chien Chance Lai
Translation | Yi-Chen Emily Li
Editing | Hsiu-Cheng Faina Chang / StoryLab
Photographer | Hao-Yun Peng and Yen-Yu Shih / ZDunemployed studio
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