
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
UNICEF: More than 100 children killed in Gaza since ceasefire - 2
Step by step instructions to Look at Compact disc Rates: A Thorough Aide - 3
This Luxurious Thermal Spa In Italy Is Perfect For A Relaxing Escape While Visiting Milan - 4
Steven Spielberg's 'Disclosure Day' trailer drops: What we know about the alien movie - 5
Wegmans recalls mixed nuts over salmonella contamination fears
Figure out How to Get the Most Familiar Drive for Seniors in SUVs
From Specialist to Proficient Picture taker: Individual Triumphs
Czech Republic's new premier: No money for Ukraine
Manual for Tracking down the Immaculate Magnificence of Focal Asia
What happened to Eleven after the ambiguous 'Stranger Things' series finale? Millie Bobby Brown knows — but 'swore herself to secrecy'
Forget 'Outer Banks.' These Gen Z-ers just want to watch 'M*A*S*H*' and 'Gilmore Girls.'
OpenAI launches ChatGPT Health to connect medical records, wellness apps
From School Dropout to Example of overcoming adversity: My Excursion
These are the Fastest Italian Sports Cars













