ID :
76027
Wed, 08/19/2009 - 12:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/76027
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea set to launch 1st space rocket
By Lee Joon-seung
NARO SPACE CENTER, South Korea, Aug. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea was to launch its first space rocket later Wednesday, aiming to become the world's 10th country to send a locally developed communications satellite into orbit from its own soil.
After several delays, the Russian-made Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) was
scheduled to blast off from the Naro Space Center on the nation's south coast at
5 p.m.
"A successful liftoff could officially herald the country's entry into the space
exploration arena, controlled by established technology leaders such as the
United States, Russia, the European Union and Japan," the Ministry of Education,
Science and Technology said.
South Korea spent 502.5 billion won (US$402.4 million) on the 140-ton KSLV-1 that
stands 33m tall and has a diameter of 2.9m. Its main first stage liquid-fuel
rocket, made in Russia, can generate 170t of thrust, with the second stage
rocket, made domestically, able to generate 8t of thrust and designed to place a
satellite into orbit.
Experts at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) said that while the
first stage of the KSLV-1 was made in Russia, South Korea has gained valuable
know-how that can enable it to make a powerful indigenous rocket by 2018.
Through cooperation with Russia, the country has gained knowledge of systems
integration and acquired the necessary know-how to design, build and test most
rocket components.
It has also built a second stage, solid fuel rocket that can house a scientific
satellite in the nose fairing assembly, and has almost completed work on a liquid
fuel rocket with 30t of thrust.
Seoul said a second KSLV-1 rocket will be launched in April 2010, with work to
develop an engine with 75t of thrust to begin.
In the long run, the country wants to build a space probe that can orbit the moon
by 2015.
NARO SPACE CENTER, South Korea, Aug. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea was to launch its first space rocket later Wednesday, aiming to become the world's 10th country to send a locally developed communications satellite into orbit from its own soil.
After several delays, the Russian-made Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) was
scheduled to blast off from the Naro Space Center on the nation's south coast at
5 p.m.
"A successful liftoff could officially herald the country's entry into the space
exploration arena, controlled by established technology leaders such as the
United States, Russia, the European Union and Japan," the Ministry of Education,
Science and Technology said.
South Korea spent 502.5 billion won (US$402.4 million) on the 140-ton KSLV-1 that
stands 33m tall and has a diameter of 2.9m. Its main first stage liquid-fuel
rocket, made in Russia, can generate 170t of thrust, with the second stage
rocket, made domestically, able to generate 8t of thrust and designed to place a
satellite into orbit.
Experts at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) said that while the
first stage of the KSLV-1 was made in Russia, South Korea has gained valuable
know-how that can enable it to make a powerful indigenous rocket by 2018.
Through cooperation with Russia, the country has gained knowledge of systems
integration and acquired the necessary know-how to design, build and test most
rocket components.
It has also built a second stage, solid fuel rocket that can house a scientific
satellite in the nose fairing assembly, and has almost completed work on a liquid
fuel rocket with 30t of thrust.
Seoul said a second KSLV-1 rocket will be launched in April 2010, with work to
develop an engine with 75t of thrust to begin.
In the long run, the country wants to build a space probe that can orbit the moon
by 2015.
