South Korean satellite launch service company INNOSPACE says it has rescheduled the first commercial launch of its small satellite launch vehicle, HANBIT-Nano, from July to the second half of 2025.
The schedule adjustment follows the identification of technical inspection issues related to the vehicle’s first-stage electric pump and hybrid propulsion system during preparations for the stage qualification test.
While these issues were not evident during earlier performance tests, they were identified during a propellant supply system test conducted prior to the stage qualification test. The company says additional time is needed to address the identified risks and complete more detected inspections to ensure a stable launch.
The stage qualification test, a key milestone for verifying the launch vehicle’s safety and mission capability, is a mandatory step for securing launch approval. Testing is scheduled to begin next month, with approval review to commence upon its completion.
The revised launch schedule will be finalized promptly upon the completion of technical inspections and the stage qualification test.
“We sincerely acknowledge the concern caused by the two schedule changes and feel a strong sense of responsibility,” said INNOSPACE CEO Soojong Kim. “However, we have determined that the technical issues identified during recent tests may potentially affect the launch vehicle’s performance and the overall mission success. Addressing them in advance is a preemptive measure we believe is necessary to fulfil our responsibility to our customers.”
“This decision reflects our commitment to enhancing technical completeness to ensure a more reliable launch and mission operation,” he adds. “As the final preparation period has been extended, all our team members are making every effort to deliver a more thorough and dependable outcome.”
Previously, INNOSPACE rescheduled the HANBIT-Nano launch from March to July 2025 due to delays in the delivery of electric pump components and the construction of the Goheung Integrated Test Facility.
