On August 20, 2026, South Korean commercial launch provider INNOSPACE announced that the Brazilian Air Force activated the Flight Termination System (FTS) during the first test flight of its SEBIT multipurpose suborbital rocket on August 19, 2026.
The flight was conducted at 16:30 BRT at the Alcântara Space Center in Brazil to verify the rocket’s operational performance and flight systems.
Flight Performance and Vehicle Specifications
The single-stage SEBIT rocket is powered by a three-ton-class hybrid rocket engine designed to carry customer payloads up to suborbital altitudes of 100 kilometers or below for technological testing, verification, and scientific research. During the test, SEBIT ignited on INNOSPACE’s proprietary launch pad and completed a normal liftoff.
Following initial flight, tracking systems detected movement deviating from the planned trajectory. In compliance with spaceport range safety protocols, the Brazilian Air Force executed the flight termination command, bringing the vehicle down within a designated maritime safety zone off the Brazilian coast without injury or property damage.
Operational Leadership
“The data and operational experience secured through this first test flight will be an important asset for advancing SEBIT’s suborbital test and verification services,” said Soojong Kim, Founder and CEO of INNOSPACE. “Through repeated flights, we will continuously raise service reliability and grow SEBIT into a mission-focused suborbital space transportation platform that customers can rely on.”
Data Analysis and Follow-Up Manifest
During the flight, INNOSPACE successfully recovered telemetry covering launch pad systems, hybrid engine propulsion performance, tracking, and guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) parameters. Engineering teams are conducting a root-cause analysis to determine the precise altitude, velocity, and cause of the trajectory deviation.
The launch marked the first commercial agreement facilitated by ALADA (Brazilian Aerospace Projects Company) for the operational use of state-owned facilities at the Alcântara Space Center. INNOSPACE plans to implement engineering adjustments based on telemetry data before scheduling follow-up suborbital test flights.
