Chronology of major events leading to first space rocket launch

NARO SPACE CENTER, South Korea, Aug. 18 (Yonhap) -- The following is a chronology
of major events related to South Korea's development and launch of its first
space rocket.

August 2002 - South Korea and Russia confirm a development plan for Korea Space
Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) rocket, and begin design and construction work. Space
rocket launch is planned for 2005.

Sept. 21, 2004 - South Korea, Russia sign space technology cooperation pact

Oct. 26, 2004 - Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) signs cooperative pact
with Russia's Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center

2005 - South Korea, Russia complete work on critical designs for KSLV-1. Original
blast off set for 2005 postponed until October 2007

September 2006 - Engineering model for upper part of rocket is completed

Oct. 12, 2006 - Seoul says launch of KSLV-1 planned for October 2007 will be
delayed by one year

Oct. 17, 2006 - South Korea, Russia sign Technology Safeguard Agreement

July 2007 - Critical design for land-based launch support facilities is acquired

September 2007 - Qualification model of upper part of rocket is completed

November 2007 - Critical design review of rocket is conducted by South Korean and
Russian engineers

December 2007 - Revisions of cooperative pact implemented with new launch date
set for KSLV-1 in late 2008

July 23, 2008 - South Korean government says scheduled launch of first rocket
will be put off until 2009 due to delays in the arrival of the main booster
rocket and other key parts from abroad

August 2008 - Russia builds ground test vehicle (GTV) for main booster of KSLV-1.
Seoul says first space rocket may be launched in second quarter of 2009

March 12, 2009 - Launch is put off again until late July to allow engineers more
time to check safety systems

May 10, 2009 - South Korea selects "Naro" as the name for its first space rocket

June, 2009 - South Korea opens Naro Space Center. Launch pad certification is
completed using KSLV-1 GTV. Complete first-stage rocket arrives from Russia by
plane

July 17, 2009 - Space rocket launch is delayed due complications in analysing
fire test of main booster rocket

July 30, 2009 - Russia successfully conducts "hot fire test" on KSLV-1 engine

Aug. 1, 2009 - Seoul says KSLV-1 has been rescheduled for launch on Aug. 11

Aug. 4, 2009 - Russia informs Seoul that a "technical issue" related to the fire
test data on engine will require more time to check

Aug. 7, 2009 - Gov't says "technical issue" caused by diagnostic glitch in data
processing, rocket safe for launch

Aug. 11, 2009 - Seoul sets new launch date at Aug. 19 after consultation between
South Korean, Russian engineers

Aug. 19, 2009 - South Korea's first space rocket is scheduled to be launched
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)