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South Korean Rocket Failure Traced to Gas Leak
18 Mar
Summary
- A gas leak in the rocket's combustion chamber caused the crash.
- Innospace blames sealing issues for the failure.
- A new launch attempt is planned for the third quarter of 2026.
The Hanbit-Nano rocket, developed by South Korean firm Innospace, experienced a failure less than a minute after its launch from Brazil's Alcântara Launch Center in December. This mission was its first commercial attempt to reach orbit, carrying satellites and technological experiments.
A joint investigation determined that a gas leakage occurred 33 seconds into flight due to insufficient compression and uneven sealing in the combustion chamber assembly, resulting in a rupture. Innospace is enhancing assembly and quality management procedures, along with design elements, for its next launch.
Innospace plans a second launch attempt in the third quarter of 2026. The company's CEO stated that while success cannot be guaranteed, the implemented enhancements will raise the probability of a successful launch. Further launches are planned before the end of 2026 if the upcoming attempt is successful.
