
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
Discussion on deployment of foreign troops ongoing, two sources tell 'Post' - 2
Vote in favor of your Number one Kind of Gems - 3
From Exemplary to Current: Famous Rings Available - 4
Make your choice for a definitive Christmas place to get-away! - 5
Scientists train to dive beneath polar ice as climate change warms the Arctic and Antarctica
Passover under fire: Israelis balance fatigue with cautious hope after month of war
How Trump's marijuana executive order could change medical research landscape
Horses really can smell our fear, new study finds
Sixteen Kenyans missing in Russia after army recruitment
Israel kidnaps PIJ terrorist in covert op. in Hamas-controlled Gaza in pursuit of Ran Gvili
Find the Specialty of Calligraphy: Dominating the Exquisite Art of Penmanship
Saturn shines with the waxing moon at sunset on Nov. 29
Fetterman says he's back home after a fall put the Pennsylvania senator in the hospital
South Korea president says Iran war shows the need to ditch ‘extremely risky’ fossil fuels













