Taiwan's military-run research institute destroyed its own satellite launch rocket mid-flight after it veered off course, a setback for the island's push to put satellites in orbit itself.

• The rocket flew off its planned path shortly after liftoff, so the safety system blew it up on purpose.
• Debris fell inside the planned safety zone, and nobody was hurt.
• This was the first launch test of the program, which aims to put low-orbit satellites in space using solid-fuel rockets.
• Launch tests are on hold until flight data is studied and the design is fixed.
• The program is separate from Taiwan's civilian space agency, which uses liquid-fuel rockets.

Outlook: No new launch attempts until the fault is found and fixed, with officials briefing local Pingtung communities in the meantime.