- Sputnik International, 1920, 24.01.2023
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False Alarm: Taiwan Mistakenly Issues Air Raid Alert for Satellite Launch

© Photo : IRNAArtist's impression of the Khayyam earth imaging satellite.
Artist's impression of the Khayyam earth imaging satellite. - Sputnik International, 1920, 11.01.2024
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Taiwan's defense body issued an erroneous air raid alert on Tuesday, mistaking a satellite launch for a missile flyover. The alert, initially causing alarm across the island, was later retracted and clarified.
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense sent out an islandwide air raid alert on Tuesday, mistakenly warning residents of an incoming missile, which turned out to be a satellite launched from a mainland China. The alert, broadcast in English, contrasted the accurate Chinese version of the message, which informed the public of the satellite and cautioned about potential debris.
The erroneous English alert, sent to mobile phones across Taiwan, stated: "Air raid Alert. Missile flyover Taiwan airspace, be aware."
The General Bureau of Aerospace Engineering of the DPRK successfully launched the Manrigyong-1 reconnaissance satellite at 22 hours, 42 minutes and 28 seconds on November 21, 112 Juche (2023) using a new type of Chollima-1 carrier rocket from Sohae Space Center in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province. - Sputnik International, 1920, 31.12.2023
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This caused considerable confusion and concern among residents until the ministry issued an apology several hours later, acknowledging the inaccuracy and confirming that it was a satellite, not a missile.
The satellite in question was part of the Einstein Probe project, a collaboration between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the European Space Agency. It was launched from Xichang in Sichuan province using one of China's Long March rockets.
This incident is not the first time Taiwan's defense officials have been on alert due to satellite launches. A similar situation occurred in October, when the ministry warned of another satellite entering Taiwanese airspace, though they reassured the public that it posed no threat.
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