Nam Hyun-woo has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2013, mostly covering business and politics. He currently belongs to the Business Desk where he covers topics such as emerging tech, AI, ICT and Korea's chaebol community. Prior to joining the team, he was the paper's correspondent for the presidential office of Korea during the Yoon Suk Yeol and Moon Jae-in administrations.
Korea’s 1st commercial space vehicle cleared for launch, likely in November
Innospace’s HANBIT-Nano launch vehicle creates smoke due to its thrusters during its first-stage rocket engine test at the company’s test site in Goheung County, South Jeolla Province, Sept. 18. Courtesy of Innospace
By Nam Hyun-woo
Innospace, a Korean space startup, is expected to launch its first vehicle, HANBIT-Nano, likely in November, marking the country’s first attempt to send a commercial space vehicle into low Earth orbit (LEO).
Innospace said Monday that it has recently received commercial launch approval for its SPACEWARD mission from the Korea AeroSpace Administration. With this approval, the company has completed all necessary procedures and has begun final preparations for the launch at Brazil’s Alcantara Space Center.
For the launch, Innospace has set a launch window from Oct. 28 to Nov. 28. The launch window refers to the period during which the actual launch can take place. Initially, it was set for Oct. 28 to Nov. 7, but was extended to Nov. 28 after coordinating launch inspection procedures, mission stability and joint operation schedules with the Brazilian Air Force.
Innospace said the upcoming launch will also mark the first commercial vehicle launch from a Brazilian space center, adding that Brazilian authorities have provided active support to ensure optimal conditions and a stable launch. While the launch site is operated by the Brazilian Air Force, Innospace will use its own independently built launch platform for the mission.
The exact launch date and time will be determined after a comprehensive review of weather conditions, technical inspections, and launch operations. Given the necessary preparations and weather factors, industry officials expect the launch will likely take place next month.
The mission patch of Innospace's SPACEWARD mission / Courtesy of Innospace
The SPACEWARD mission is a full-fledged commercial launch that will deploy clients’ satellites and other payloads into LEO at an altitude of 300 kilometers. Having secured contracts with five clients from Brazil, India, and Korea, the HANBIT-Nano will carry eight payloads and one commemorative branded payload.
The payloads include five small satellites designed for climate and environmental data collection, technology development and education, as well as three experimental payloads aimed at testing new technologies and gathering data in space conditions. The branding model, commissioned by Korean beverage company Brewguru, was prepared to commemorate Korea’s entry into the commercial aerospace era.
“The approval demonstrates that we have met all national requirements, including launch vehicle safety, mission capability, environmental and security standards,” Innospace CEO Kim Soo-jong said. “It also shows that we have officially earned legal and technical credibility as the first Korean private company authorized for a commercial launch.”
“The SPACEWARD mission is not a flight test but a full-fledged mission to transport clients’ payload into space. It will be a historic milestone that marks our entry into the commercial launch market.”
Since Korea is a signatory to the Outer Space Treaty, the country is responsible for any launch conducted by its citizens or companies, even when the launch takes place outside its territory. Also, domestic law stipulates that companies must obtain government approval if they intend to launch a domestically manufactured vehicle abroad. Through this, the country manages space activities safely and addresses any potential issues that may arise during overseas launches.