[Yonhap News Photo]
SEOUL -- Hanbit-TLV, a South Korean space vehicle launched from a space center in Brazil, made a successful flight, becoming the first domestic civilian test launch vehicle. The space vehicle developed by South Korean startup Innospace burnt its engine for about 106 seconds.
Hanbit-TLV lifted off from the Alcantara Space Center at 2:52 p.m. (local time) on March 19. After combusting its engine for 106 seconds, Innospace said the small satellite launcher fell within Brazil's maritime zone.
According to Innospace, the engine combustion time was 12 second less than originally planned time of 118 seconds. However, the company said the engine was operating properly and maintaining thrust stability during the flight. Brazil's inertial navigation system called "SISNAV" was carried by Hanbit-TLV, Innospace said, adding that the solution also performed properly.
"The success of the test-launch of Hanbit-TLV means we have gained an opportunity to tap the global space launch service market, as well as securing technological capabilities to develop rockets independently," Innospace CEO Kim Soo-jong was quoted as saying.
Innospace now plans to launch Hanbit-Nano, a satellite launch vehicle that can carry a 50-kilogram payload. It is set to be test-launched in 2024.
In October 2021, a homemade three-stage rocket called the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-2 (KSLV-2) known as "Nuri" was successfully launched into space, putting South Korea among the ranks of countries that can develop a rocket capable of carrying more than one ton of payload into orbit. The Nuri project was led by a state aeronautics and space agency.
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