● Anomaly detected approximately 30 seconds after liftoff, shortly after the vehicle passed through the cloud layers
● Mission termination executed in accordance with safety protocols; no casualties or ground damage
● Liftoff and early flight data secured, forming a critical foundation for root-cause analysis and reliability enhancement
● Relaunch attempt planned within secured launch slots next year; detailed schedule to be finalized following joint investigation with FAB’s CENIPA

INNOSPACE announced today that the company safely executed an early termination of the SPACEWARD mission during the first commercial launch of its two-stage launch vehicle, HANBIT-Nano, conducted on December 22 (Brazil Time) from the Alcântara Space Center in Brazil. The company has initiated an analysis of the launch failure based on data collected during the flight.

HANBIT-Nano lifted off from the launch pad at 10:13 p.m. BRT on December 22 and began ascending along its planned vertical trajectory. The first-stage main engine, a 25-ton-class hybrid rocket engine, ignited successfully and demonstrated stable performance during the initial flight phase. This marked the world’s first flight record for a hybrid rocket engine in the medium-to-large scale thrust class, demonstrated on a launch vehicle.

Approximately 30 seconds after liftoff, an anomaly was detected in the launch vehicle. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle separated into several sections and descended, impacting the ground within the designated safety zone. No injuries or additional facility damage were reported. INNOSPACE executed the mission termination in full compliance with international-standard safety procedures established in coordination with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). 

INNOSPACE initiated an initial analysis of the flight termination based on flight telemetry and tracking data jointly analyzed with the Brazilian Air Force. The final determination of the cause of the launch failure will be made following an official investigation led by FAB’s Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA).

Based on video footage and preliminary data available to date, the vehicle achieved approximately 30 seconds of nominal ascent. During its passage through cloud layers, communication between the vehicle and ground systems was lost. Subsequently, the vehicle sustained structural damage of an undetermined cause, leading to separation into multiple sections and indications of first-stage engine thrust termination. As a result, the vehicle lost propulsion and attitude control and entered free fall, separating into the first stage, second stage, and smaller debris fragments. As the calculated Instant Impact Point (IIP) remained within the launch site’s designated safety perimeter, and to prevent debris dispersion and residual hazards, the Flight Termination System (FTS) was activated in accordance with procedures pre-coordinated with Brazilian safety authorities. The launch vehicle was detonated at the point of ground impact, resulting in early mission termination. The successful execution of the flight termination procedure under anomalous conditions demonstrates the maturity of the vehicle’s safety design and the integrated operational readiness between the launch operator and the launch site authority.

Customer satellites and payloads onboard are covered under pre-arranged customer insurance policies, and the early termination is not expected to have a material impact on INNOSPACE’s commercial launch service contracts or long-term business plans. In addition, debris from the HANBIT-Nano launch vehicle that fell within the designated ground safety zone has been recovered and will be used for joint root-cause identification and technical enhancements by both parties.

Through this launch, INNOSPACE secured comprehensive data related to liftoff and early flight operations, as well as ground observation data. The company will continue technical verification efforts to further enhance launch reliability and prepare for follow-on missions. A retry of the HANBIT-Nano launch is under review for next year within secured launch slots at the Alcântara Space Center. The detailed schedule will be finalized following the completion of the official investigation led by CENIPA and the implementation of launch vehicle improvement measures.

“The space launch vehicle industry is an extremely complex field where thousands of variables operate simultaneously across design, manufacturing, ground testing, integration, launch operations, and flight,” said Soojong Kim, Founder and CEO of INNOSPACE. “Only a limited number of companies worldwide have reached the stage of executing an actual commercial launch.”

He added, “We sincerely apologize to our customers who entrusted us with their missions despite this being our first commercial launch, as we were unable to fully meet their expectations due to the early mission termination. Based on the flight data secured through this launch, we will continue to enhance technical completeness and reliability to maximize the probability of success in future launches.”

▲ HANBIT-Nano lifting off from the Alcântara Space Center in Brazil (December 22)