EUGENE INVESTMENT & SECURITIES on the 24th said that, with recent approvals for the first- and second-stage launch vehicles, a final launch approval for INNOSPACE is likely. INNOSPACE is preparing its first launch at Brazil's Alcantara Launch Center after October.
INNOSPACE last week conducted the first-stage certification test of its small launch vehicle "Hanbit-Nano" at its own launch test facility, the Goheung Integrated Test Site. The Korea AeroSpace Administration approved the results of this certification test on the 22nd.
INNOSPACE has been proceeding with procedures to obtain a launch license since December last year. Having previously received second-stage certification in Jul., it has now passed both first- and second-stage certifications.
Jung Ui-hoon of EUGENE INVESTMENT & SECURITIES said, "Because both first- and second-stage certifications have been completed, if there are no major procedural issues, a final approval appears within reach," and noted, "The specific launch schedule is expected to be decided after the Korea AeroSpace Administration grants the final launch approval."
On news that the first launch is imminent, INNOSPACE shares are also rebounding. INNOSPACE shares fell sharply last month on news of a planned rights offering but have now recovered to pre-disclosure levels. Given its prior success with a test launch of a 15-ton-class first stage, expectations for a successful launch outweigh concerns.
Jung said, "On the 19th, it signed a multiple launch service contract worth 8 billion won with a German satellite communications company," adding, "If the first commercial launch succeeds, performance improvement from subsequent launch services and the possibility of additional orders can also be expected."