News and Events

Space Education Activities by Aerospace Engineering Department Ignite Students' Enthusiasm

Date 2023-10-30 668 Clicks

A group photo of the TKU Aerospace team at the 4th CubeSat Mission Design Competition
A group photo of the TKU Aerospace team at the 4th CubeSat Mission Design Competition

The Department of Aerospace Engineering has recently been entrusted by Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) and Taiwan Space Union (TSU) to organize 2 aerospace education-related student activities, namely the "5th CubeSat Mission Design Competition" and the "5th Satellite Science Workshop Student Day." Moreover, the Student Day, held on November 4, coinciding with Tamkang's anniversary ceremony, expanded its participants to students from high schools and exchange student groups from overseas for the first time. The aim is to inspire young students to engage in the field of space exploration and collectively contribute to a brighter future for the satellite science and research development in Taiwan.

Both of these activities are student-focused events within the "Taiwan International Assembly of Space Science, Technology, and Industry" (TASTI) in 2023. The Competition has been held since 2017 with the primary goal of encouraging basic and applied research related to space science and technology to stimulate more innovation and increase participation in space programs. The competition this year saw a significantly higher number of registered teams, totaling 21. Starting from October 30, the competition is held at the Nangang Exhibition Center, with 10 finalist teams present in English.

The Student Day this year is guided by National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) and TSU, a national platform and think tank established by NSTC for space science in Taiwan, and hosted by the Space Technology Laboratory of the Aerospace Engineering Department at our university. Based on the success of the past four times, this event is organized by the students themselves, featuring guest lectures by Dr. Tien-Chuan Kuo, the Deputy Director of TASA, and Academician Wing-Huen Ip, the Chair of TSU. Additionally, it includes panel discussions between aerospace experts and students from 9 teams, including students from Tamkang University, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, and National Central University, exchange students from India at our university, and high school students from Chien Kuo Flying Club.

Prof. Fu-Yuen Hsiao, the chair of the Aerospace Engineering Department, emphasized the booming development of the space industry in recent years. With the passing of the "Space Development Act" in May 2021, the government has declared space as one of the 6 core strategic industries. In the coming years, the demand for talent in the space industry will substantially increase. Aerospace Engineering Department has always emphasizing both aviation and space as dual specialties, dedicated to nurturing the talent needed for Taiwan's future space industry. In the field of space education, apart from cultivating talents in space systems engineering through the development of small research sounding rockets, the department collaborates with TASA and TSU to organize activities such as the Competition and the Student Day to enhance student interactions and ignite their passion for space.

SDGs #SDG04 Quality Education #SDG09 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure #SDG17 Partnerships for the Goals


Tamkang Aerospace students' booth at the 4th Satellite Science Workshop Student Day
Tamkang Aerospace students' booth at the 4th Satellite Science Workshop Student Day