Innospace Rocket Crashes 30 Seconds After Liftoff in Setback for South Korea's Private Space Bid

South Korea's first commercial orbital rocket, the `Hanbit-Nano`, crashed just seconds after its launch from Brazil, its operator `Innospace` Co. confirmed. The vehicle, carrying five customer satellites, lifted off from the Alcantara Space Center on Monday evening local time but fell back to Earth just `30 seconds` later due to a reported "abnormality."

The failure marks a significant setback for the startup's ambition to become the first private South Korean company to place a commercial satellite into orbit. According to the company, the rocket crashed within a designated ground safety zone, and no casualties or additional damage were reported.

A Fiery, Short-Lived Flight

The rocket blasted off at 10:13 p.m. local time, according to a Yonhap report. A YouTube livestream of the event reportedly showed flames appearing immediately after liftoff before the broadcast was suspended. `Innospace` later confirmed the vehicle's failure and crash.

The launch had already faced three postponements from its original November 22 date, adding to the pressure on this inaugural commercial mission. A success would have been a landmark moment for South Korea's burgeoning private space industry.

The Mission and the Machine

The `Hanbit-Nano` was tasked with a high-stakes delivery: deploying a payload of five satellites into a `300-kilometer` low Earth orbit. The two-stage vehicle was `powered` by a `25-ton` thrust `hybrid engine` for its first stage, with a liquid methane and oxygen engine for the second stage.