[News Inside Companies] Innospace Launches 'First Private Test Launch Vehicle'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] 'Hanbit TLV,' the first space launch vehicle developed by the private sector in South Korea, is scheduled for launch on the 21st.

Space startup INNOSPACE announced that it will conduct a test launch of Hanbit-TLV at 6 p.m. Korean time on the same day at the Alc?ntara Launch Center in Brazil's Alc?ntara state.

Founded in 2017, INNOSPACE is researching and developing (R&D) small satellite launch vehicles applying hybrid rocket technology. The company possesses proprietary hybrid rocket technology and is preparing to provide low-cost, low-latency, and stable launch services in the rapidly growing small satellite market. Although headquartered in Sejong, it is exploring opportunities to enter the global space market through overseas subsidiaries in Brazil and France. The venture capital (VC) industry has taken note of the company's growth potential, leading to a total investment of 35.2 billion KRW through Series B funding.

If INNOSPACE succeeds in the Hanbit TLV test launch, it will pass the first gateway to becoming the first private company in South Korea to provide satellite launch services. Until now, the only domestic launch vehicle capable of meeting small satellite launch demand has been the government-led 'Nuriho.'

Hanbit-TLV is a single-stage test launch vehicle developed to verify the flight performance of a 15-ton thrust hybrid engine. It stands 16.3 meters tall, has a diameter of 1.0 meter, and weighs approximately 8.4 tons. Compared to the Nuriho test launch vehicle (75-ton thrust, 52.1 tons weight), its thrust is about one-fifth, and its weight is about one-sixth.

The launch vehicle is equipped with a proprietary hybrid engine that combines the advantages of solid fuel and liquid oxidizer. Using solid-state fuel and liquid-state oxidizer, it has a relatively simple structure allowing for a shorter manufacturing period and offers thrust control capabilities similar to liquid rockets.

Earlier, INNOSPACE completed the final launch rehearsal of Hanbit-TLV smoothly on the 17th and prepared for launch on the 19th, but the schedule was delayed by a day due to weather issues. On the 20th, during pre-launch checks before erecting the launch pad, an anomaly was found in the pump cooling system valve, causing the schedule to be postponed again two hours before the planned launch time. The research team transported Hanbit-TLV back to the assembly building for additional inspections and technical measures and is currently preparing for launch again, targeting 6 a.m. local time in Brazil on the 21st (6 p.m. Korean time on the 21st).

Kim Su-jong, CEO of INNOSPACE, said, "This test launch is the first suborbital test launch to verify the hybrid rocket engine independently developed with purely domestic technology over the past five years," adding, "It will be a very important step toward entering the space market."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.