
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
10 Demonstrated Tips to Boost Your New Android Cell phone: A Thorough Aide - 2
4 Energy-Proficient Clothes washers to Consider in 2024 - 3
Step by step instructions to Pick the Right Sunlight powered charger Type for Your Home - 4
Nodding off is dangerous. Some animals have evolved extreme ways to sleep in precarious environments - 5
Hundreds of Gazans evacuated from Strip for medical treatment - COGAT
Why do people get headaches and migraines? A child neurologist explains the science of head pain and how to treat it
New dietary guidelines recommend more dairy, meat and fats: What to know
The 1 question we have to ask ourselves about the Taylor Frankie Paul 'Bachelorette' scandal
SpaceX launches Starlink satellites from California on 160th Falcon 9 flight of the year (video)
Eli Lilly to build $6 billion Alabama plant as part of US manufacturing push
Find the Advantages of Deep rooted Getting the hang of: Extending Information and Self-awareness
Ads promising cosmetic surgery patients a ‘dream body’ with minimal risk get little scrutiny
The most effective method to Promoter for Cellular breakdown in the lungs Mindfulness in Your People group
Huge Iranian missile fragments, intercepted by air defenses, lay scattered across Israel, West Bank













