
Dec 23 (Reuters) - South Korean satellite launch company Innospace on Monday launched the first commercial rocket from Brazil's Alcantara Space Center, a milestone for the firm and Brazilian aerospace ambitions that ended with a crash.
The HANBIT-Nano vehicle lifted off at 10:13 p.m. Brazil time (0113 GMT), five days later than originally scheduled.
Just two minutes after the launch, a live feed within the official livestream showed a message noting an "anomaly" was experienced during the flight. The livestream ended immediately afterward.
According to Brazil's air force, the rocket began its vertical trajectory as planned, but an issue prompted a crash into the ground. Officials and firefighters were sent to analyse the wreckage and the collision area, the air force added in a statement.
Innospace has not provided further information about the launch and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The firm's South Korea-listed shares fell about 24% in midday trading after the crash, the biggest intraday decline since August.
The launch was delayed from Wednesday after an anomaly in a cooling unit component of the first-stage oxidizer feed system during final inspections, and again on Friday for a few hours due to unfavourable weather conditions.
In a previous statement, Innospace said it replaced the component on the launch pad, allowing the Spaceward mission to proceed within its December 16-22 launch window. It was launching eight registered cargoes, including five small satellites, for undisclosed customers.
The Brazilian air force and space agency offered operational support for the launch in coordination with key agencies.
In March 2023, Innospace had launched its test vehicle HANBIT-TLV from the same facility in northeast Brazil to verify the performance of its 150 kN hybrid rocket engine.
(Reporting by Fernando Cardoso; Editing by Jamie Freed)
latest_posts
- 1
Swap The Amalfi Coast For This Low-Cost Ligurian Seaside Town - 2
2025 Yachting Editors' Choice Awards: Yachts - 3
Fossil analysis changes what paleontologists know about how long T. rex took to grow full size - 4
Can scientists detect life without knowing what it looks like? Research using machine learning offers a new way - 5
A Manual for Pick Great Lawful Discussion Administrations For New businesses In 2024
Last Christmas, 3 million viewers watched a Chiefs love story — will Bills fans fall just as hard this year?
Public Parks in the USA
Honda’s Biggest Flex Isn’t Its Superbikes, It’s Selling 500K Bikes In One Month
Remains of banker missing since 1999 found on California beach by family looking for seashells
Consumer outlook on UK economy falls to two-year low
Former United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno joins competitor Blue Origin for national security projects
OpenAI launches ChatGPT Health to connect medical records, wellness apps
10 Hints for an Effective New employee screening
Top 20 Style Brands for Pioneers













