This is the first commercial launch in Brazil, from the Alcântara base
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December 23
2025
– 07:14
(updated at 7:56 a.m.)
Summary
The FAB has confirmed that an anomaly caused the HANBIT-Nano rocket to explode during the launch of Operation Spaceward, Brazil’s first commercial flight, and is investigating the causes with Innospace and other agencies.
South Korean rocket explodes after attempted space launch on Brazilian territory:
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) said that the South Korean HANBIT-Nano rocket collided with the ground after presenting an anomaly, shortly after its launch from the Alcântara launch center, in Maranhão, at 10:13 p.m. this Monday 22.
The Innospace rocket collided and images show an explosion. According to the FAB memo, the vehicle was part of Operation Spaceward, which was the first launch of a commercial rocket from Brazil.
A team from the FAB and firefighters was sent to the site to analyze the wreckage and the area where the collision occurred. The actions are the responsibility of the Air Force, which coordinates the operation involving security, monitoring and data collection.
The standards were met as expected, according to the note, ensuring a controlled launch within international space sector parameters.
Innospace technical teams continue to analyze the data and investigate the causes of what happened, in collaboration with the FAB and other organizations and institutions involved in the operation. More information on the case will be released later, according to the FAB.
Rocket exploded during launch
A live broadcast of the launch of HANBIT-Nano showed the moment of its explosion this Monday, 22, at the Alcântara base, in Maranhão. The team posted the message: “We noticed an anomaly during the flight,” indicating that the problem had been identified, which led to the explosion.
The transmission followed the rocket’s trajectory for a little over a minute. Two cameras were installed on the rocket’s stages. At another point, the rocket reaches Mach-1, which is when the speed of a space object exceeds the speed of sound.
Then the HANBIT-Nano moves towards Earth’s orbit and reaches MAX Q, when a space object reaches the greatest aerodynamic force intensity until it reaches the atmosphere.
The flight lasted a little over a minute before the broadcast was interrupted. It was possible to observe the start of space travel, then the transmission was cut off by Innospace.
The flight was unmanned and the rocket carried scientific experiments and technological devices that would be used in research conducted in Brazil and India.
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