Space bill passes its third reading By Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporter Taiwan’s first space development bill on Monday passed a third reading, empowering the Ministry of Science and Technology to establish a national rocket launch site. The bill would confirm the ministry as the authority to oversee local space activities, including the establishment of a launch venue and approval of launch plans. Those who launch a vehicle without obtaining government approval would face a fine of NT$1 million to NT$10 million (US$36,183 to US$361,834), or a prison term of up to five years, the bill says. Compensation that an owner or operator of a launch vehicle would be required to pay is capped at NT$5 billion if a launch were to cause an accident.