Innospace's Historic Launch for South Korea's First Commercial Rocket Delayed by Weather

South Korean space startup Innospace Co. confirmed on Monday that the launch of its Hanbit-Nano rocket, the nation's first-ever commercial orbital vehicle, has been pushed back due to unfavorable weather at its launch site in Brazil.

Rain Halts Countdown at Alcantara

The rocket was originally scheduled to lift off from the Alcantara Space Center at 3:45 p.m. local time, according to the company. However, with rain forecast for the afternoon, operators delayed the attempt until after 10 p.m. The company explained that once the rain stops, the rocket needs to be erected, a process that requires at least six hours of preparation before the final countdown can begin.

"It is difficult to forecast the exact time the rain will stop," Innospace said in a statement. "We will monitor weather conditions and announce the launch time later." This marks the third postponement since the original launch date of November 22.

High Stakes for a New Space Player

A successful mission would make Innospace the first private South Korean company to place a customer satellite into orbit, a significant milestone for the country's burgeoning space industry. The Hanbit-Nano is carrying a payload of five satellites intended for deployment into a 300-kilometer low orbit.

The two-stage vehicle is powered by a 25-ton thrusthybrid engine in its first stage, while the second stage employs a liquid methane and oxygen engine. Now, this advanced hardware is waiting on one of technology's oldest adversaries: the weather.