
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 dinosaur tracks in Italy illustrate herds moving in unison - 2
Winona Ryder didn't take the 'Stranger Things' plot lightly. How 'otherworldly' grief and a kidnapping in her hometown informed her character. - 3
What's inside Mexico's Popocatépetl? Scientists obtain first 3D images of the whole volcano - 4
‘Slender Man’ attacker back in custody. What we know about Morgan Geyser's disappearance and what happens next. - 5
'No middle ground' for tackling antisemitism after Bondi Beach mass shooting, deputy FM Haskel says
Cyclone Narelle turns Australian skies blood red in ‘apocalyptic’ scenes
New subclade K flu strain raises concerns: What families should know
New movies to watch this weekend: See 'They Will Kill You' in theaters, rent 'Send Help,' stream 'Pretty Lethal' on Prime Video
See a half-lit moon shine among the stars of Aquarius on Nov. 27
Fundamental Home Machines for Improved Solace in Summer
Nitty gritty Manual for Picking Agreeable Tennis shoes
Toddler given just 3 years to live after strange symptoms makes full recovery
Machado ‘presented’ her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump
How to avoid or deal with an outrageous medical bill












