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It exploded shortly after being launched last Monday night (22/12), at the Alcântara Launch Center (CLA), in Maranhão. The episode marked the interruption of the first commercial launch of an orbital rocket from Brazilian territory and began a joint investigation between the company responsible for the vehicle and Brazilian authorities. Below, check out the main points already clarified and the questions that still await answers.
What happened during the launch
HANBIT-Nano took off at 10:13 pm and followed its initial trajectory as planned. About 30 to 40 seconds after takeoff, an anomaly was identified during the flight. After the problem was detected, the official broadcast was interrupted and security protocols were activated. According to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), the rocket collided with the ground within the base’s security area.
See the photos
Images captured by a drone recorded the moment the vehicle disintegrated in the air, forming an intense ball of fire.
Casualties and damage
According to InnoSpace, the company responsible for the rocket, and the FAB, there were no injuries or damage outside the Alcântara Launch Center area. The wreckage remained restricted to the safety zone previously delimited for the operation.
Cause of the explosion
The exact cause of the explosion has not yet been determined. InnoSpace said it identified an anomaly during the flight, but said it will not release conclusions before full analysis of the data collected. So far, it is known that the failure occurred after the rocket surpassed the sound barrier (Mach 1) and when it approached the phase known as MAX Q, a period of greatest aerodynamic stress.
Base or rocket failure
According to preliminary assessments by experts and the FAB, there were no failures in the Brazilian infrastructure. The systems at the Alcântara Launch Center operated as expected, including security protocols. The initial indication is that the problem occurred in the vehicle itself, which was making its maiden flight.
Flight termination system
The flight termination system, a safety mechanism that interrupts the rocket’s trajectory when there is a risk of loss of control, worked correctly, according to authorities involved in the operation. The activation ensured that the vehicle did not leave the established safe area.
Did the rocket go into orbit?
No. The flight lasted just over a minute and was interrupted before the HANBIT-Nano could reach Earth’s orbit. The transmission was cut off shortly after the anomaly was identified, a standard procedure in cases of failure.
Loads transported
The rocket carried eight payloads, including satellites and scientific experiments developed by institutions in Brazil and India. Among the equipment were university satellites for collecting environmental data and testing communications, satellite navigation and positioning devices and an Indian satellite intended for monitoring solar phenomena. All charges were lost.
Main losses
The main impact of the accident was scientific and technological. The explosion resulted in the loss of projects that had been developed for years and that would be tested for the first time in an orbital environment.
Importance of the launch for Brazil
The mission was part of Operation Spaceward and represented the first commercial launch of an orbital rocket from Brazil. The flight symbolized a step towards resuming the use of the Alcântara Launch Center for commercial missions and in cooperation between the country, foreign companies and research institutions.
Financial return
According to the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), the contract signed with InnoSpace did not provide for direct profit for Brazil. The agreement is to provide services with minimal retribution to the State, with a strategic focus on developing the space sector and attracting future missions.
Investigation underway
The investigation is being conducted by InnoSpace in conjunction with the Brazilian Air Force and other institutions involved. Technicians analyze flight data and debris collected to identify the origin of the anomaly.
What still needs to be clarified
Points such as the exact technical cause of the failure, whether there was a structural, propulsion or control problem, and what the impacts of the accident will be on future commercial launches from Alcântara are still awaiting clarification. New information must be released after the technical analyzes are completed.
