Procedures for the on-site investigation in Brazil related to corporations INNOSPACE's small satellite launch vehicle Hanbit-Nano's first commercial launch have been completed.
INNOSPACE said on the 12th that the Brazilian Air Force officially released the final investigation report on the first commercial launch of Hanbit-Nano on the 11th (local time).
Previously, INNOSPACE carried out the SPACEWARD mission, the first commercial launch of Hanbit-Nano, at the Alcântara Space Center at 10:13 p.m. on Dec. 22 last year (Brazil local time). However, at 33 seconds into flight, the sealing performance at the forward section of the first-stage hybrid rocket combustion chamber assembly of the launch vehicle deteriorated, causing combustion gas leakage, and the mission was terminated early after the combustion chamber ruptured.
This report was prepared based on the results of a joint technical investigation conducted by the Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA) under the Brazilian Air Force and INNOSPACE after the Hanbit-Nano launch mission was terminated early.
The report includes the cause of the launch flight termination, measures to prevent recurrence, and the results of implementing improvements. The Brazilian Air Force approved the report as part of procedures to ensure the safety and reliability of follow-up launches.
With the investigation procedures officially concluded, INNOSPACE plans to continue preparations aiming for a follow-up launch in the third quarter. Based on the joint investigation results, the company is carrying out component upgrades, assembly process improvements, and reinforcement of quality control systems. It is also conducting ground firing tests to verify the improvements and undergoing launch license review by the Korea AeroSpace Administration in parallel.
Going forward, a single-qualification test will be conducted on the improved qualification model (QM·Qualification Model). The single-qualification test is a verification test that reproduces the launch procedure on the ground—such as propellant loading, engine firing, and control system operation—using a launch vehicle identical to the actual flight model. Through this, the performance and reliability of the launch vehicle will be finally verified.
INNOSPACE CEO Kim Su-jong said, "Identifying the causes of technical issues that occurred during the launch mission and establishing measures to prevent recurrence is a necessary process for ensuring launch vehicle reliability," adding, "We will reflect the findings of this investigation in preparations for follow-up launches and improvements to our development systems."