Taiwan Launches First Public Crowdfunding Drive for a Global Space-Tracking Network

After nearly 20 years of delays, Taiwan’s TP2m telescope project is making a new public appeal for help reaching its first light. The project is seeking NT$30 million through what it describes as the first small-donor fundraising campaign for a Taiwanese astronomy program.

The telescope itself, with a 2-meter aperture, and its first set of multicolor imaging and control systems have been completed. The equipment is scheduled to arrive in Mexico in September 2026. Once the local observatory is ready, TP2m is expected to link with the Rubin Observatory in Chile and Taiwan’s Lulin Observatory, creating a relay that can follow changes in the universe continuously across time zones.

The project initially received funding from Taiwan’s Education Ministry more than a decade ago under a five-year, NT$500 billion program. The telescope was originally intended for Lulin, but environmental reviews, technical problems and unsuccessful bidding halted the plan. A proposed move to Chile also failed after the pandemic prevented a partner from completing the necessary infrastructure.

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This is not only a research project or a piece of equipment, but educational infrastructure.

Mexico’s San Pedro Mártir site offered a new opportunity. Project leader Chen Wen-ping said the area has dry weather, a high rate of clear skies and stable atmospheric conditions, while water, electricity, internet, accommodation and transport are available. After more than three years of talks with the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the team confirmed the new site. The telescope was returned to its manufacturer for hardware and software upgrades and the installation of a focus platform.

The network is designed for events that may last only a few hours. If the Rubin Observatory detects an object that suddenly appears or rapidly brightens, TP2m could take over observations in Mexico, with Lulin continuing the work later. Taiwan’s universities and research teams are expected to receive 55 percent of observing time, with Mexico and other partners sharing about 45 percent. Chen described the project as educational infrastructure as well as research equipment, saying Taiwan needs advanced facilities to participate in international observations and train future astronomers.

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The state has given us funding. It has not let us down.