Innospace HANBIT-NANO

HANBIT-NANO (Korean: 한빛-나노) is a two-stage launch vehicle currently under development by South Korean space startup Innospace.^[1]

HANBIT-NANO

HANBIT-NANO (International Astronautical Congress, 2022)
Function	Launch vehicle
Manufacturer	Innospace
Country of origin	South Korea
Size
Height	21.8 m (72 ft)
Diameter	1.4 m (4 ft 7 in)
Stages	2
Capacity
Payload to SSO
Altitude	500 km (310 mi)
Mass	90 kg (200 lb)
Launch history
Status	Planned
Launch sites	Alcantara Space Center
First flight	Planned (second half of 2025)
First stage
Thrust	245 kN
Specific impulse	292 sec
Burn time	150 sec
Propellant	Paraffin / LOx
Second stage
Thrust	34 kN (Hyper) 29 kN (LiMER)
Specific impulse	325 sec (Hyper) 350 sec (LiMER)
Burn time	270 sec (Hyper) 300 sec (LiMER)
Propellant	Paraffin / LOx (Hyper) Methane / LOx (LiMER)

Development

In December 2024, the first and second stage separation verification tests, which are essential steps in the development of HANBIT-Nano, were successfully completed.^[2] The test was conducted at the company's Cheongju plant in North Chungcheong Province, and was carried out in a test facility that simulated the single separation process.^[3]

Technology

It is a two-stage launch vehicle that is 21.8 m long and 1.4 m in diameter and can launch 90 kg into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 500 km.^[1]

The first stage is equipped with one 25-ton hybrid engine, and the second stage is equipped with one 3-ton engine. The second stage operates the hybrid engine Hyper or the methane engine LiMER according to the launch mission requested by the customer, thereby providing a customized launch service.^[4][1][5]

Instead of using gunpowder to create explosive force during the separation, a split nut method using pressure and screws has been adopted. Innospace explained, "Compared to the method using gunpowder, the structure is simple and lightweight, and in particular, it can minimize the impact on the projectile and payload during the separation process."^[3]

The fairing developed by the company was specifically designed to maximize weight reduction and durability, and was made by using a carbon composite layering method instead of a metal structure, thereby achieving a lightweight structure. A high-temperature coating material was applied to ensure heat resistance that can withstand high-temperature environments.^[4]

Launch

The first launch was initially scheduled for July 2025 from the Alcantara Launch Center in Brazil.^[2] On May 2025 INNOSPACE announced that it was rescheduled to the second half of 2025 due to technical issues with the first-stage electric pump and hybrid propulsion system.^[6][7]

See also

• HANBIT-TLV
• South Korean space program