South Korean startup Innospace has received government approval for its first orbital launch, which may take place as early as the end of October.
The company reported, that the Korean Space Agency (FAIL) issued it a commercial launch license - the first of its kind, granted to a private company in South Korea. This is the final stage of approval, required for the debut launch of the Hanbit-Nano rocket.
The launch is planned for the period from 28 October to 28 November from the Alcantara Space Center in Brazil.
The mission, called Spaceward, will deliver five small satellites into orbit, created by the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), by the Federal University of Maranhao and the Indian startup Grahaa Space. Three scientific payloads from AEB and Brazilian company Castro Leite Consultoria will also be on board, which will remain attached to the rocket, as well as a "brand exhibit" from the South Korean company Brewguru - an empty aluminum can, described as a marketing element.
Although the launch will take place in Brazil, a team from KASA will arrive on site, to test security systems and ensure a stable and successful mission. According to the company, this visit will also contribute to the deepening of space cooperation between Brazil and South Korea.
Hanbit-Nano is a two-stage small-class missile, able to output to 90 kg into sun-synchronous orbit from the site in Alcantara. The first stage uses a hybrid fuel based on liquid oxygen and paraffin, and the second is liquid oxygen and methane.
Innospace has already tested its hybrid technology during the launch of Hanbit-TLV in 2023 year — a suborbital rocket, which also started with Alcantara. The company reported a successful test, but did not reveal the maximum height, which the rocket reached during the 4.5-minute flight.
Hanbit-Nano will be the first in a series of planned Innospace launch vehicles. The Hanbit-Micro version will have two engines on the second stage and an additional booster unit on methane, which will increase the carrying capacity to 170 Kg. In turn, Hanbit-Mini, equipped with two lower stages on liquid oxygen and paraffin and an upper stage on methane, will be able to launch into orbit 1,3 tons.
Source: https://spacenews.com