Launch sequence of S. Korea's first space rocket

NARO SPACE CENTER, South Korea, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- The following is the launch
and satellite deployment sequence of South Korea's first space rocket. The
blastoff is set at between 4:40-6:20 p.m Tuesday (Seoul Time).

- Four days before launch - Battery cells on board Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1
(KSLV-1) and Science and Technology Satellite-2 (STSAT-2) recharged.

- Three days before launch - Weather conditions on launch date checked, with all
systems examined.

- Two days before launch - KSLV-1 with STSAT-2 payload moved from rocket assembly
complex to launch pad and fastened to erector arm with final check conducted on
all vital mechanical systems.

- 24 hours before launch - Launch rehearsal carried out to check all rocket
systems and to conduct final check prior to blast off. Weather conditions around
Naro Space Center checked for strong winds, lightning.

- Four hours before launch - Controllers conduct overall preparations, including
checking electrical and mechanical control systems, to determine "go or no-go"
for liftoff.

- Two hours before launch - Injection of fuel and oxidation agents takes place.
The process takes roughly one hour.

- 18 minutes before launch - Chief technical controller to make final decision on
moving forward with or aborting launch.

- 15 minutes before launch - Automatic launch sequence begins for final countdown.

- 3.8 seconds before liftoff - Rocket engines ignited.

- launch - Thrust from main booster engine exceeds 142 tons, sending rocket into
space with land-based tracking radars and highspeed cameras following its assent
and collecting data.

- 20 seconds after launch - KSLV-1, which flew vertically for 10 seconds after
liftoff, makes a "kick-turn" and veers south 900m above launch pad.

- 55 seconds after launch - Rocket comes under extreme stress as it exceeds speed
of sound 7.4km from the ground.

- 215 seconds after launch - Fairings at tip of rocket are ejected 245km from
launch pad at an altitude of 177km to permit separation of second stage rocket
from main booster. Fairings fall to earth.

- 229 seconds after launch - Engine for the first stage main booster is turned off.

- 232 seconds after launch - First and second stage rockets separate 316km from
Naro Space Center at an altitude of 196km, with main booster falling near the
Philippines.

- 395 seconds after launch - Kick motor of second stage rocket ignites at an
altitude of 303km to help position satellite into proper orbit. Rocket 1,052km
from Naro Space Center.

- 453 seconds after launch - Second stage rocket turned off after STSAT-2 reaches
correct trajectory for stable orbit at an altitude of 306km. KSLV-1 travels at
10km per second.

- 540 seconds after launch - Scientific satellite separates from second stage
rocket 2,055km from launch pad, and deploys solar panels. It aligns itself into
proper orbit.

- 13 hours after launch - STSAT-2 to make first contact with controllers at the
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Daejeon.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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