The multipurpose suborbital rocket "Sebit (SEBIT)" from private space launch corporations INNOSPACE made its first test flight in Brazil, but the flight was terminated early after it deviated from the planned trajectory midflight.
INNOSPACE said on the 20th that it conducted Sebit's first test flight at Brazil's Alcântara Space Center at 4:30 p.m. on the 19th local time (4:30 a.m. on the 20th Korea time).
Sebit is a single-stage suborbital rocket equipped with a 3-ton-thrust-class hybrid rocket engine. It lifted off normally with engine ignition from its own launch pad that day, but movement deviating from the planned trajectory was detected during the subsequent flight.
In accordance with launch site safety regulations, the Brazilian Air Force activated the flight termination system (FTS) to end the flight. The vehicle fell within Brazil's maritime safety zone, and no casualties or facility damage occurred.
INNOSPACE is analyzing the flight path, altitude, range, and flight time based on data secured during the test flight. The company also plans to identify the cause of the deviation from the planned flight path through data collected from key systems such as the launch pad, propulsion, guidance, navigation and control (GNC), and tracking systems. After the analysis is completed, it will incorporate improvements based on the cause and proceed with follow-up test flights.
Chief Executive Kim Su-jong of INNOSPACE said, "We will closely analyze the cause based on the data and operational experience obtained from the first test flight," and added, "Through follow-up flights, we plan to continuously verify flight performance and operational stability."