South Korean aerospace company InnoSpace has released video footage showing the August 19 launch of its SEBIT rocket from Brazil, which was cut short after a trajectory deviation.
The footage, published on Monday 13 days after the unbroadcast test flight, shows the operation from behind-the-scenes preparations to liftoff at the Alcantara Launch Center in the northeastern state of Maranhao.
According to InnoSpace, the suborbital rocket ignited and took off normally from the launch pad. However, technicians detected an unexpected shift in its planned path during flight, prompting safety controllers to end the test early.
The Brazilian Air Force terminated the flight after the rocket drifted off course, adhering to safety protocols established at the launch facility.
Trajectory deviation and technical data
Despite the shortened flight, InnoSpace said the test provided valuable operational data across key onboard systems. Engineers gathered information on the launch platform, propulsion system, tracking, and guidance, navigation and control mechanisms.
The company stated that the data and operational experience gained will form an important foundation for analyzing flight results. InnoSpace added that the findings will help identify necessary improvements to enhance SEBIT's flight performance, reliability, and operational stability.
The operation was conducted under a contract between InnoSpace and Alada, a Brazilian state enterprise that coordinates commercial activities at national spaceports. Officials confirmed that activities under Brazilian responsibility proceeded according to plan.
Suborbital testing at Alcantara
The SEBIT vehicle is a suborbital rocket developed by InnoSpace. Unlike orbital launch vehicles designed to place satellites into orbit, suborbital rockets follow a flight path that enters space or high atmospheric altitudes without completing a full revolution around Earth.
Suborbital flights allow aerospace developers to evaluate engine performance, guidance systems, and experimental payloads under space conditions at lower cost than full orbital missions.
The Alcantara Launch Center, operated by the Brazilian Air Force on the northern coast of Maranhao, offers strategic advantages for rocket launches due to its proximity to the equator. Its location near the equatorial line allows rockets to take advantage of Earth's rotational speed, reducing fuel consumption during liftoff.
Alada manages commercial partnerships at the spaceport, working alongside the military to expand international commercial launch operations from Brazilian territory while maintaining safety oversight.
