Innospace Identifies Cause of Hanbit-Nano Launch Failure

South Korean startup Innospace says its inaugural launch failed in December when exhaust leaked from a combustion chamber and caused the rocket to break up.

Innospace announced March 17 it had completed its investigation into the launch of its first Hanbit-Nano rocket December 22 from the Alcantara Space Center in Brazil. The rocket appeared to lift off normally but fell back to Earth and exploded about 80 seconds after liftoff. There were no injuries or damage to launch facilities.

The company found that 33 seconds after liftoff exhaust leaked from the rockets first-stage combustion chamber resulting in a rupture of the combustion chamber and the subsequent separation of the launch vehicle into multiple parts.

Investigators traced the leak to plastic deformation of sealing components when part of the combustion chamber for the hybrid engine was reassembled at the launch site before the launch. In response Innospace plans to improve quality management and assembly processes as well as make certain design improvements to the rocket.

The investigation was carried out jointly with Brazils Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center known as CENIPA.

Both Innospace and CENIPA have reached a consistent conclusion regarding the analysis results and there are no differences between the two organizations regarding the follow-up measures said Soojong Kim chief executive of Innospace.

Immediately after the failure the company said it would attempt the vehicles next launch in the first half of 2026. In the announcement the company said that launch has slipped to the third quarter.