South Korea's INNOSPACE will launch Brazilian payload on inaugural flight from Alcântara
Updated: May 10, 2022
The launch of the test launch vehicle; "HANBIT-TLV", is planned for the fourth quarter of 2022
INNOSPACE, Co. Ltd. is a South Korean company, headquartered in Sejong City, that operates in the aerospace and defense industry, providing aerospace technology and manufacturing services., has announced may 3, 2022, that signed an agreement with the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA) to launch SISNAV, an inertial navigation system project supported by the Financier of Studies and Projects (Finep) of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovations (MCTI) and by the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB).
Alcântara Spaceport has the conditions to host various activities related to space activity, which go beyond placing satellites in Earth orbit. In this case, we have the exemplary situation in which both a vehicle and an inertial system will be tested, both under development. We are sure that this initiative by DCTA and INNOSPACE will open a new chapter in our history of access to space, said AEB President Carlos Moura
INNOSPACE is currently developing HANBIT, a small satellite launcher powered by its hybrid rocket engines, and the first test flight of HANBIT-TLV is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2022 (December 2022) at the Alcântara Launch Center located in North-Eastern Brazil, which is an equatorial launch site. It will be the first suborbital test flight to validate the first stage engine of HANBIT-Nano, which is a 2-stage small satellite launcher capable of carrying a 50 kg payload.
With this agreement, INNOSPACE expects to be able to verify the launch vehicle’s performance capability and obtain recognition in the aerospace sector at the same time by launching the payload despite a test flight. HANBIT-TLV is a 15-ton thrust single-stage hybrid rocket with a height of 16.3 m, 1-meter-diameter, and weight of 9.2-ton.