The launch of the Innospace rocket from Brazil ended in failure just two minutes after takeoff. According to the Brazilian Air Force, a message displayed on the official livestream indicated an “anomaly” occurred during the flight, resulting in the rocket crashing to the ground. The livestream was abruptly terminated following the incident.
The Brazilian Air Force confirmed that the rocket had initially followed its intended vertical trajectory. However, an unspecified issue led to the crash. Emergency officials and firefighters were dispatched to the site to assess the wreckage and evaluate the area of the collision. Innospace has not released additional details about the incident and did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Launch Delays Prior to Incident
The launch, initially scheduled for December 2023, faced delays due to technical issues. Specifically, an anomaly was detected in a cooling unit component of the first-stage oxidiser feed system during final inspections. The launch was postponed again on December 15 for several hours due to adverse weather conditions.
Innospace stated that the faulty component was replaced on the launch pad, allowing the Spaceward mission to proceed within its launch window of December 16-22. This mission was set to carry eight registered cargoes, including five small satellites, for undisclosed customers.
History of Innospace Launches
This launch attempt followed a previous successful test of Innospace’s technology. In March 2023, the company successfully launched its test vehicle, HANBIT-TLV, from the same facility in northeast Brazil. That mission aimed to verify the performance of its 150 kN hybrid rocket engine.
The Brazilian Air Force and the Brazilian space agency provided operational support for the launch, collaborating with key agencies to facilitate the mission. This partnership highlights ongoing efforts to develop Brazil’s space capabilities and support private sector participation in space exploration.
As inquiries continue regarding the cause of the crash, the incident raises questions about the challenges facing new entrants in the aerospace industry. The investigation into the crash will likely focus on identifying the technical issues that led to the failure and ensuring future launches can proceed safely.
