Touching the Stars
Space launch vehicle startup Innospace’s Hanbit-TLV was successfully launched on March 19 from the Alcantara Space Center in Brazil.
The purpose of the launch is to test the performance of the hybrid rocket engine with a thrust of 15 tons that Innospace will apply to its Hanbit-Nano, a two-stage small satellite launch vehicle for satellite launch services.
The payload of Hanbit-TLV is SISNAV, an inertial navigation system in the process of development by the Department of Science and Aerospace Technology (DCTA) of the Brazilian Air Force. The success or failure of the SISNAV performance test is scheduled to be announced soon.
The hybrid rocket developed by the startup uses a solid fuel and a liquid oxidizer at the same time. In general, solid-fuel rockets have the risk of explosion and have their own thrust control limitations. Liquid-fuel rocket development requires more time and cost, although thrust control is easier.