Home / Technology / South Korean Rocket Fails Mid-Flight, Sets New Launch Date
South Korean Rocket Fails Mid-Flight, Sets New Launch Date
24 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Innospace's Hanbit-Nano rocket failed shortly after liftoff on Dec. 22.
- The company aims for a second launch attempt in the first half of 2026.
- No injuries or damage to ground facilities were reported after the anomaly.
South Korean launch startup Innospace is targeting the first half of 2026 for a second launch attempt of its small rocket, the Hanbit-Nano. This comes after its inaugural flight on December 22nd failed shortly after liftoff from Brazil's Alcântara Space Center.
The Hanbit-Nano rocket, carrying eight small satellites, appeared to launch normally. However, approximately 80 seconds into the flight, an anomaly occurred, leading to the vehicle falling within the safety zone. Innospace CEO Soojong Kim stated that while the first stage ignited correctly, an unknown cause led to the failure about 30 seconds after liftoff.
Despite the setback, Innospace plans to analyze the collected flight data to implement necessary technical improvements. The company views the data as a crucial foundation for increasing the success probability of their next commercial launch, similar to how other major launch companies have progressed through early flight data accumulation.
