INNOSPACE to Make Second Attempt to Launch Suborbital Rocket "SEBIT" on Nov. 29

Follow-up test flight planned at Brazil's Alcantara Launch Center
Engine thrust increased from 3-ton to 4-ton class... HANBIT-Nano launch postponed to the first half of next year

INNOSPACE, a South Korean private space launch vehicle company, will conduct a follow-up test flight of its multipurpose suborbital rocket, SEBIT. The company plans to verify the performance of the rocket, which has higher engine thrust and an improved flight control algorithm following its first test flight. The launch of HANBIT-Nano, a small satellite launch vehicle originally scheduled for this year, has been postponed to the first half of next year.

INNOSPACE announced on November 9 that it had set the launch window for SEBIT's follow-up test flight from November 16 through December 11, with November 29 as the target launch date. All dates are in local time in Brazil.

Innospace employees assemble and inspect the "SEBIT" launch vehicle at the Alcantara Launch Center in Brazil. Courtesy of Innospace.

The test flight will take place at the Alcantara Launch Center in Brazil. The launch schedule was set after consultations with relevant organizations, including the Brazilian Air Force and the space agency. The actual launch date and time will be finalized within the launch window, taking weather conditions and launch preparations into account.

SEBIT is a multipurpose suborbital rocket under development to test and validate various technologies in high-altitude and microgravity environments. The single-stage vehicle is 8.7 meters long and 0.7 meters in diameter, and is equipped with a hybrid rocket engine with 4-ton-class thrust.

Unlike conventional orbital launch vehicles, which place satellites into Earth's orbit, SEBIT is designed to carry payloads to altitudes of up to 100 kilometers. The goal is to use it for research and technology validation in high-altitude and microgravity environments in the space, defense, biotechnology, medical, and advanced materials sectors.

The follow-up test flight will verify the performance of the engine, whose thrust has been increased from the previous 3-ton class to the 4-ton class. The flight control algorithm has also been redesigned. INNOSPACE plans to gather additional flight data and operational experience to improve launch safety and reliability and lay the groundwork for commercializing suborbital test and validation launch services.

Meanwhile, the test flight will use the operational period at the Alcantara Launch Center that was originally allocated for the HANBIT-Nano launch. Accordingly, preparations for HANBIT-Nano will continue, with a launch targeted for the first half of 2027.

INNOSPACE said the Brazilian Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA) released its final investigation report on SEBIT's first test flight on November 5, and that the official investigation has concluded following approval by the Brazilian Air Force.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.