Private space launch corporations INNOSPACE completed domestic ground tests for the multipurpose suborbital rocket "Sebit (SEBIT)" and will head to Brazil for its first test flight.
INNOSPACE said on the 12th that it completed Sebit's qualification test on the 3rd at the Geumsan ground combustion test site in South Chungcheong. The qualification test is a procedure to check performance and system integration by applying flight-like conditions while key components such as the propulsion system, airframe structure, flight control unit, and electrical and electronic systems are assembled.
In this test, the 3-ton-thrust hybrid rocket engine mounted on Sebit was fired for 83 seconds. The operating status of the propellant supply system, structure, and electrical and flight control systems was also checked.
With this test, INNOSPACE wrapped up Sebit's major planned ground tests in Korea. It plans to carry out vehicle assembly, functional checks, launchpad integration, and a final rehearsal at the Alcantara Space Center in Brazil.
The target date for the first test flight is Aug. 19 local time in Brazil. The launch window runs for 10 days from the 19th to the 28th, and the actual launch time will be set in consultation with the Brazilian Air Force, taking into account weather and technical readiness.
Sebit is a suborbital rocket that transports payloads to an altitude of 50–100 kilometers. It was developed for technology verification and scientific experiments in high-altitude, microgravity environments. In this test flight, the plan is to confirm Sebit's flight performance and operational stability and to secure flight data needed for future operations.
Kim Su-jong, CEO of INNOSPACE, said, "Based on the domestic test results, we will continue preparations for launch in Brazil to verify Sebit's flight performance and operational stability."