Engineers unable to pinpoint exact cause of failed space rocket launch: sources

SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- A group of South Korean aerospace experts has not been
able to determine the exact cause of last year's failed space rocket launch,
government sources said Wednesday.

The sources at the science ministry and state-run the Korea Aerospace Research
Institute (KARI) said the seven-member civilian group has isolated two possible
causes for the failure of the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) to deploy its
scientific satellite into orbit.
The remarks come as the ministry is expected to announce a "definitive" report on
the cause of the rocket launch failure late this week or early next week.
KSLV-1 or Naro-1 rocket was launched with Russian participation in August and
lifted off successfully from the Naro Space Center 485 kilometers south of Seoul,
but the satellite fell back to Earth.
"The assessment is that structural problems or faulty electrical wiring in the
fairing assembly are the likely reasons," a KARI source said on condition of
anonymity. He, however, said that it may be impossible to know the exact cause
since some tests can only be carried out if an actual launch is undertaken.
The fairing assembly located at the tip of the rocket covers the satellite and
should have been jettisoned during the assent of the rocket. Telemetry reports
and photos showed that one of the two fairing covers remained attached and this
slowed down the speed of the rocket.
He added that the key point is to make modifications to ensure that the problem
is not repeated again in the second launch planned for this year.
KARI said it will make all the necessary modifications to the second stage rocket
that houses the fairing assembly so it can be attached to the main first stage
booster that will arrive from Russia's Khrunichev State Research and Production
Space Center in March.
If all preparations move forward without a hitch, South Korea is expected to
launch the Naro-1 for the second time in May as planned.
South Korea spent 502.5 billion won (US$435.0 million) to develop the 140 ton
rocket that stands 33 meters tall with a diameter of 2.9 meters.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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