
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
Pick Your Favored pizza beating - 2
The cheap health insurance promoted by Trump officials has this catch - 3
Why most Jewish Israelis back the death penalty for terrorists - 4
This country music star spent years hiding his sexuality. Coming out — and beating addiction — has made his soul feel '20 pounds lighter.' - 5
My Dad Can't Travel Like He Used to, but Slowing Down Doesn't Mean Stopping
Sun storms are powered by a magnetic engine 16 Earths deep, study finds
Figure out How to Keep up with and Clean Your Brilliant Bed for Ideal Execution
Israel intensifies Lebanon attacks and hits areas not in Hezbollah's control
Court clears Beersheba assault suspect of link to Haymanut Kasau disappearance, extends detention
Defence chiefs of Thailand and Cambodia to discuss ceasefire
Are multiverses real? An astrophysicist explains why it depends on how you define ‘real’
Manual for Mountain Objections on the planet
$30K Disability Scam Implodes After Surf Trip in Mexico
Email Promoting Instruments for Compelling Efforts













