
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
Best Wellness Tracker Keep You On target - 2
Doctors say changes to US vaccine recommendations are confusing parents and could harm kids - 3
The Most Encouraging New companies to Look Out For - 4
Easy to understand Tech: Cell phones for Old in 2024 - 5
Pedal Power: Divulging Well known Bike Brands for Each Cyclist
Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis join Iran in strike on Israel
Instructions to Pick the Right Dental Expert for Teeth Substitution
Picking the Right Pot for Your Plants: An Aide for Plant Devotees
Equality requires universal draft, participation in economy and workforce, MK Liberman says
Trump announces 'Patriot Games' with 2 competitors from every state and territory: What we know
5 Family SUVs for 2024: Which One Accommodates Your Family's Needs\uff1f
Nikki Glaser returns as host of the 2026 Golden Globes: Everything the comedian has said about the upcoming awards show
Turning into a Distributed Writer: My Composing Process
Burkina Faso must 'forget' about democracy, military leader says











