Tech Startups Face Challenges: Innospace's Failed Launch and Gene Editing Concerns

South Korean startup Innospace launched its first Hanbit-Nano rocket from the Alcantara Space Center in Brazil on December 22, 2025, at 8:13 p.m. EST. The launch, which aimed to mark the first-ever orbital attempt by a South Korean company, ended in failure approximately one minute after liftoff when the rocket experienced an anomaly and crashed back to Earth.

The Hanbit-Nano is a two-stage rocket designed to carry up to 198 pounds or 90 kilograms of payload into a sun-synchronous orbit. It was carrying five small satellites for customers from Brazil and India, along with three additional technology-demonstrating payloads.

Innospace, founded in 2017, has developed its launch technology in-house and currently employs about 260 people. The CEO, Kim Soo-jong, indicated that the company has plans for larger rockets, including the Hanbit-Micro and Hanbit-Mini.

The launch had faced multiple delays due to a technical issue and adverse weather conditions leading up to the event. As of now, the cause of the failure remains unclear, and Innospace has not provided further updates following the incident.