
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
No red, no long shorts: The fashion rules Joe Burrows lives by - 2
Humpback whale freed by rescuers in Baltic Sea has become stranded again - 3
Embrace the Outside: Exercises and Entertainment - 4
8 Fundamental Stages: Novice's Manual for Secure Your Android with a VPN - 5
Congress is running out of time to extend ACA subsidies as the GOP moves on to an alternative plan. Here's where things stand.
Make your choice for a definitive Christmas getaway destination!
Marvel's X-Men are joining the battle in 'Avengers: Doomsday': Watch the teaser
German mid-sized firms gloomy on outlook, survey finds
How to track NASA’s Artemis II and Orion’s journey to the moon
IVE 2026 'Show What I Am' Tour: How to get tickets, prices, dates and more
Is Chinese food truly flavorful?
6 Novice Cameras for 2024: Ideal for New Picture takers
Aspirin can prevent a serious pregnancy complication — but too few women get it, new report suggests
Top 15 Web-based Entertainment Stages for Individual Marking












