The Hanbit‑Nano rocket built by South Korea’s Innospace crashed shortly after liftoff from Brazil’s Alcântara launch site on Dec. 23, triggering an automatic flight termination. Video and telemetry show the vehicle lost control about one minute into flight and descended inside the designated safety zone; no injuries or damage outside the perimeter were reported. The two‑stage rocket was carrying eight payloads — five nanosatellites and three experimental packages from Brazilian and Indian institutions — and liftoff occurred after five delays. An investigation is underway to determine the cause.
South Korea's Hanbit‑Nano Rocket Crashes Shortly After Liftoff From Brazil's Alcântara
A view of Innospace's 'Hanbit-Nano' launch vehicle before the launch attempt at Alcantara Space Center in Brazil. Photo courtesy of Innospace
Dec. 23 — The Hanbit‑Nano rocket, developed by South Korean aerospace company Innospace, crashed shortly after liftoff from Brazil’s Centro de Lanzamiento de Alcântara during what was intended to be the country’s first commercial space launch.
What Happened
The launch took place at 10:13 p.m. local time and was streamed live by the company. Video and telemetry reviewed by specialists show the vehicle lost control within the first minute of flight and descended into the preestablished ground safety area. Innospace confirmed an anomaly occurred during the early phase of the mission and that an automatic flight termination was triggered. The company reported no injuries and no damage outside the approved safety perimeter.
Response and Inspection
After telemetry and video indicated the anomaly, teams from the Brazilian Air Force and the Alcântara launch center’s fire department inspected the impact zone. An on‑screen alert warning of an anomaly appeared seconds before the rocket’s signal was lost.
Vehicle and Mission Details
Hanbit‑Nano is a two‑stage launch vehicle designed to place small spacecraft into low‑Earth orbit (LEO). The rocket is approximately 72 feet (22 m) tall, weighs about 44,000 pounds (20 metric tons), and is roughly 4.6 feet (1.4 m) in diameter. For this mission it was intended to reach an altitude of about 186 miles (300 km). LEO is commonly used for Earth observation, communications and scientific satellites and extends up to roughly 1,240 miles (2,000 km).
The payload manifest included eight items: five nanosatellites for environmental and climate monitoring, technology development and education, plus three experimental packages to validate technologies in orbit. The devices were developed by institutions and companies from Brazil and India.
Launch Conditions and Site Advantages
The launch had been postponed five times prior to liftoff, initially for technical issues — including problems with the fuel oxidizer cooling system — and later because of adverse weather. When it did proceed, liftoff occurred on the final day of the planned launch window, chosen for optimal Earth geometry and atmospheric conditions to reach the targeted orbit.
The Alcântara Launch Center, located about two degrees south of the equator, offers strategic advantages for commercial launches: launches from near‑equatorial sites can reduce required propellant by up to about 30%, provide greater flexibility in orbital trajectories and lower risk to populated areas thanks to direct access to the Atlantic Ocean and low local population density.
Commercial Partnership and Next Steps
Innospace operates under a service agreement with the Brazilian government to use Alcântara as a commercial launch platform. The Brazilian Space Agency has stated the agreement is intended to promote international use of the site rather than to generate direct financial returns for the state.
An investigation into the anomaly is underway. Engineers will analyze telemetry, video and hardware to determine the cause and assess implications for Innospace’s future commercial launches from Alcântara.
