The HANBIT-Nano, Korea’s first commercial space launch vehicle developed by Innospace, will launch at 3 p.m. on Nov. 22 in Brazil (local time), the company said Friday.
The launch date was set after the Korea AeroSpace Administration consulted with the Brazilian Air Force on weather conditions, integration procedures between the launch vehicle and satellite, launch safety controls and the local operation schedule. Depending on the weather conditions, the launch date and time are subject to change, the company said.
Part of Innospace’s SPACEWARD mission, the HANBIT-Nano will be Korea’s first commercial space launch vehicle capable of deploying client satellites and other payloads into low earth orbit at an altitude of 300 kilometers. Having secured contracts with five clients from Brazil, India and Korea, the HANBIT-Nano will carry eight payloads and one commemorative branded payload.
The HANBIT-Nano is a two-stage space launch vehicle measuring 21.8 meters in height and 1.4 meters in diameter. It is equipped with a 25-ton-thrust hybrid rocket engine for the first stage, and a 3-ton-thrust liquid methane engine in the second stage. The launch will take place at the Alcantara Launch Center in Brazil.
“The SPACEWARD mission will be the first step for Innospace to enter the commercial stage with its own technologies and prove its competitiveness in the global commercial launch market,” Innospace CEO Kim Soo-jong said. “We will make sure all remaining procedures are prepared thoroughly and spare no efforts until the final moment to ensure the launch is successfully carried out.”