São Luís – A rocket launch from Alcântara launch center in northern Brazil marks the beginning of the public-private partnership to make small-satellite launches between the Brazilian government and South Korea’s aerospace startup Innospace. The launch of the first rocket manufactured by the South Korean company is expected to take place Wednesday (21).
The HANBIT-TLV rocket, which is unmanned and has non-toxic, non-explosive technology, manufactured in South Korea by Innospace, is a small satellite launcher. This will be its first flight.
During the launch, dubbed Astrolabe Operation, the rocket will use liquid oxygen and paraffin-based propellants. Its patented electric pump power supply system will carry up a payload of an inertial navigation system developed by civilian professionals and the Brazilian Department of Aerospace Science and Technology. The scheduled test flight aims at checking the performance of the HANBIT-TLV. The rocket will not exceed a 100-kilometer suborbit.
The contract signed by the South Koreans and the Brazilian government in 2022 has a duration of five years and provides for new rocket launches from Alcântara.
The Launch Center in the state of Maranhão is considered strategic in the space market due to its 17-minute proximity from the Equator line, allowing the flights from there to reach the space quicker, thus saving fuel, one of the largest costs for the operation.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
