Domestic launch vehicle company Innospace will attempt a test flight of its multi-purpose suborbital rocket 'Sebit' (SEBIT) early morning on the 20th from Brazil.
Innospace will launch Sebit at 3:45 a.m. Korean time (3:45 p.m. local time on the 19th in Brazil) from the Alcântara Space Center under the Brazilian Air Force on the 20th.
Sebit is a rocket that operates up to high altitude of Earth (space between approximately 10 km and 100 km). It differs from orbital transport vehicles that carry satellites to orbits above 160 km in altitude.
After launch, Sebit is scheduled to fly in a parabolic trajectory at high altitude before descending to the ground. During flight, a 'microgravity' state with almost no gravity will be formed for several minutes, allowing various payload experiment data to be obtained. It also briefly experiences a 'near-space' condition similar to the temperature and vacuum of space. Performance of space components can be verified at this time. High-altitude transport vehicles are considered good alternatives because experiments can be conducted without incurring expensive costs to launch satellites into Earth orbit.
This is the first test flight for Sebit. Innospace previously conducted a test launch of its orbital transport vehicle 'Hanbit' (Hanbit-TLV) in 2023. It then attempted the launch of its first commercial rocket, 'Hanbit-Nano', in December last year. Hanbit-Nano was developed as a two-stage launch vehicle capable of transporting payloads up to 90 kg. At that time, Hanbit-Nano crashed into the ground about 30 seconds after liftoff. However, it is highly regarded for being the first commercial rocket launched by a domestic space launch vehicle company from an overseas launch site.
On the 20th, Innospace will verify the commercial operation potential of Sebit following Hanbit-Nano through the Sebit test flight. It plans to verify Sebit's actual flight performance and stability and secure data necessary for future service provision. The success or failure of Sebit's test launch is expected to be announced around morning on the 20th. Innospace will also attempt a re-launch of Hanbit-Nano in Brazil this November.
in TECH
