South Korean company Innospace will launch its rocket in Brazil, at the Alcântara base, in an unprecedented partnership

Innospace tests the launch of its new rocket at the Alcântara Launch Center, due to the excellent infrastructure

Brazil is a country with many potentialities, among which, the Alcantara launch center, located in the state of Maranhão, which attracted the eyes of the South Korean company, Innospace. Due to the extensive infrastructure, the South Korean private company chose the Brazilian base to test the launch of its first rocket under development.

The affirmation of this partnership came from the president of the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), Carlos Moura, this Friday (17). Innospace is already known for seeking greater affordability for satellites in different parts of the planet and now wants to expand the market with its new rocket. The test is scheduled for December and will make history. Get more details in today's article.

Stay on top of how the Alcântara Launch Base works with the video below

Brazil is interested in launching small satellites, making the partnership very advantageous for both countries

You may wonder: why the South Korean agency will launch in Brazil? Because our country is interested in carrying out future launches of small satellites, which is an Innospace specialty. Therefore, Brazil sought a partnership for the company to test its rocket at the Alcântara base, allowing fuel economy so that it reaches orbit more quickly, as it is close to the equator.

In other words, offering the Alcântara base for launching is a strategy to open new negotiations for small satellites. It is the first time that a private aerospace company will carry out a launch like this one in a base totally managed by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), after the withdrawal of Hyperion, a company from the United States, from the negotiations.

Other large companies such as Lauch Systemns, Orion and Virgin Orbit also obtained a license to launch a rocket at the Alcântara base.

South Korea's Innospace is just one of many global companies closing deals to use the Alcantara launch pad for rocket launches. The company from Canada, C6 Lauch Systems already has authorization to operate in our territory and foresees a launch for 2023.

In addition, Virgin Orbit, from the United States, also received a license to operate in Brazil and will use the Alcântara base to take off the Boeing 747, test rockets and low-orbit satellites. On the other hand, Orion AST, from the United States, also had the objective of using the base, but did not make progress in its space garbage collection research, which would be the focus of the company.

After all, who is Innospace?

Innospace is a start-up famous in South Korea for pursuing innovations in low-orbit launches. The company focuses on the sustainability and execution of low-cost aerospace activities. It is one of the pioneering companies in seeking hybrid propulsion for rockets and small satellites with a Space operator license from AEB to promote launches in Alcântara.

AEB president Carlos Moura also highlights the importance of this partnership with the South Korean Start-up for the advancement of Brazil.

The Spaceport of Alcântara has the conditions to host several activities related to space activity, which go beyond the placement of satellites in Earth orbit. In this case, we have the exemplary situation in which both a vehicle and an inertial system, both under development, will be tested. We are certain that this initiative by DCTA and INNOSPACE will inaugurate a new chapter in our history of access to space”

Carlos Moura, President of AEB (2022)