
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
New movies to watch this weekend: See 'The Running Man' in theaters, rent 'One Battle After Another,' stream 'Nobody 2' on Peacock - 2
CDC's upcoming vote on hepatitis B vaccine could impact childhood immunization - 3
Emergent Cold LatAm opens state-of-the-art cold storage hub in Guadalajara - 4
Meet the astronauts about to make history on flight around the moon - 5
Beyond the habitable zone: Exoplanet atmospheres are the next clue to finding life on planets orbiting distant stars
Your big brain makes you human – count your neurons when you count your blessings
UNICEF: More than 100 children killed in Gaza since ceasefire
Artemis II crew take new photo of far side of the moon
Polish law aimed at lowering petrol prices takes effect on Tuesday
Eco-Accommodating Kitchen Machines: 4 Picks for a Manageable Home
Flying without a Real ID? That'll soon cost you $45, TSA says.
Instructions to Back Your Sunlight powered chargers: Tracking down Possible Choices
Reports: Nepal's former PM arrested over deadly protest crackdown
Israeli lawmakers pass bill reviving death penalty for terrorists













