The first commercial rocket launch in Alcântara is expected to take place between October and November.
Innospace's mission with the HANBIT-Nano rocket marks the first private space launch operation in Brazil.
247 Brazil is preparing to register a historic milestone in its space race. Between October and November of this year, the first launch of a commercial rocket is scheduled from the Alcântara Base in Maranhão. The operation will be conducted by the South Korean company Innospace, which will send the HANBIT-Nano orbital vehicle into space. This information comes from the newspaper... The Globe.
According to the authorization granted by the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) in May, the launch window runs from October 13 to November 7. This marks the first time a commercial rocket will be launched from Brazilian soil.
History of the international partnership
Innospace already conducted a successful test in March 2023 at the Alcântara Launch Center (CLA) with the experimental HANBIT-TLV rocket. The experiment was preparatory for commercial flights, which begin in 2025.
According to the company, the current campaign reinforces cooperation between Brazil and South Korea. “The launch at CEA marks an important moment in our space campaigns. This approval reflects the strong collaboration with Brazil and progress towards accessible space transportation,” Innospace stated in a press release.
This progress was only possible after the Brazilian government signed the Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) in 2019. The document guarantees the protection of the technologies involved, both for foreign companies and for Brazil itself. Following the TSA, the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) opened a call for proposals to attract private companies. Four were selected, including the South Korean company Innospace.
Strategic importance of the agreement
The AST establishes clauses of national sovereignty. In the case of operations with the United States, for example, satellites and rockets may be launched from Alcântara, but the territory will remain under Brazilian jurisdiction. The objective is to transform the CLA into a reference center in the international space sector, exploiting its privileged location near the Equator.
HANBIT-Nano Features
The rocket chosen to inaugurate the new phase is the HANBIT-Nano, a two-stage vehicle designed for launching small satellites. Developed by the South Korean startup, it measures 21,8 meters in length and 1,4 meters in diameter, with the capacity to carry payloads of up to 90 kilograms into sun-synchronous orbits at an altitude of approximately 500 kilometers.
In its first stage, the HANBIT-Nano uses a 25-ton thrust hybrid engine, fueled by solid paraffin and liquid oxygen. The second stage can be configured according to the mission, with either a HyPER hybrid engine or a LiMER liquid engine, both with approximately 3 tons of thrust. This flexibility ensures greater adaptability to different payloads and flight profiles.
