INNOSPACE Secures Launch License for First Commercial Mission ‘SPACEWARD’

South Korea’s emerging space startup INNOSPACE has received final authorization from the Korea Office of Space and Nuclear Safety (KOSEN) to conduct its first commercial orbital launch mission. Dubbed ‘SPACEWARD,’ the mission is scheduled for Q4 2025 and will utilize the company’s hybrid-propulsion Hanbit-TLV (Test Launch Vehicle). This milestone marks a significant step in South Korea’s ambitions to foster a competitive private-sector space launch industry.

Regulatory Green Light for Private Orbital Launch

The authorization granted by KOSEN on October 18 enables INNOSPACE to proceed with the SPACEWARD mission from Brazil’s Alcântara Space Center. This follows an extensive safety and environmental review process under South Korea’s Space Development Promotion Act. The approval includes conditions related to telemetry tracking, range safety protocols, and liability insurance — aligning with international commercial launch standards.

According to KOSEN statements and INNOSPACE press materials reviewed by MiliVox, this is the first time a South Korean private company has secured regulatory clearance for an orbital-class commercial flight. While previous launches by domestic firms have been suborbital or experimental in nature (including INNOSPACE’s own March 2023 test), SPACEWARD represents a transition into revenue-generating payload delivery.

Hanbit-TLV: A Hybrid Rocket Platform

The vehicle slated for SPACEWARD is Hanbit-TLV — a single-stage hybrid rocket powered by liquid oxygen (LOX) and paraffin-based solid fuel. The TLV variant is designed primarily as a technology demonstrator but has now been upgraded to support small payloads into low Earth orbit (LEO).

• Length: ~16.3 meters
• Liftoff Mass: ~9 tons
• Thrust: ~15 tons-force
• Payload Capacity: Up to 50 kg to LEO (~500 km altitude)

The hybrid propulsion approach offers several advantages over traditional liquid or solid systems — including reduced risk of explosion during handling and storage, simplified engine architecture, and potential cost savings. However, achieving precise throttle control and combustion efficiency remains technically challenging.

The March 2023 suborbital flight of Hanbit-TLV from Alcântara validated core propulsion systems and avionics integration. For SPACEWARD, the rocket will carry multiple CubeSat-class payloads from undisclosed international customers — signaling early market traction.

Alcântara Launch Site Partnership

The choice of Brazil’s Alcântara Space Center as the launch site reflects strategic cooperation between INNOSPACE and Agência Espacial Brasileira (AEB). Located near the equator at latitude ~2°S, Alcântara offers significant velocity advantage for eastward launches into equatorial orbits — reducing required delta-v and improving payload efficiency.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in late 2021 granted INNOSPACE access to Alcântara’s infrastructure under Brazil’s commercial launch initiative. The site has previously hosted sounding rockets but is now being positioned as a regional hub for small satellite launches amid growing global demand.

This partnership also reflects broader geopolitical alignment between South Korea and Brazil on space cooperation — including knowledge exchange on propulsion technologies and joint regulatory frameworks.

A Growing Niche in Asia-Pacific’s NewSpace Sector

INNOSPACE was founded in 2017 by former KAIST aerospace engineers with seed funding from domestic venture capital firms. It joins other Asian NewSpace startups such as Japan’s Interstellar Technologies and India’s Skyroot Aerospace that are pursuing small-lift orbital capabilities using non-traditional propulsion architectures.

The company aims to offer dedicated rideshare services for microsatellite operators priced below $3 million per launch — targeting customers currently reliant on piggybacking aboard larger missions (e.g., SpaceX Transporter). Its roadmap includes development of a two-stage Hanbit-Nano vehicle capable of deploying up to 150 kg payloads by late 2026.

Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT has identified private-sector launcher development as a national priority under its “Space Economy Roadmap,” allocating over ₩1 trillion (~$740 million) through 2030 toward commercialization incentives. INNOSPACE has received both R&D grants and export support under this framework.

Operational Challenges Ahead

Despite regulatory success and promising test data, several hurdles remain before INNOSPACE can scale operations:

• Reliability: Hybrid engines have historically faced issues with combustion instability at scale; rigorous qualification flights will be needed before customer confidence matures.
• Spectrum Access: Coordinating telemetry frequencies across international jurisdictions remains complex given ITU licensing requirements.
• Crewed Range Support: Alcântara requires further modernization in terms of range safety instrumentation, real-time tracking radars, and emergency response capabilities.

If successful, SPACEWARD could position INNOSPACE as one of Asia’s few operational micro-launch providers alongside China’s i-Space or Japan’s Epsilon S successor programs. It would also validate hybrid propulsion as commercially viable beyond experimental use cases.

A Look Ahead: Toward Scalable Orbital Access

The upcoming SPACEWARD mission represents more than just a technical demonstration; it signals South Korea’s entrance into the competitive global market for responsive smallsat launches. With geopolitical interest rising around sovereign access to orbit — especially amid increasing military-commercial dual-use satellites — companies like INNOSPACE may find themselves playing strategic roles beyond pure commerce.

If follow-on missions succeed within projected timelines (2025–2026), Hanbit-Nano could serve both civilian Earth observation constellations and defense-related ISR platforms requiring rapid deployment cycles. Given Seoul’s recent emphasis on indigenous reconnaissance satellite programs post-Ukraine war lessons, domestic micro-launch capacity may become critical infrastructure within national security planning frameworks.