ID :
77094
Wed, 08/26/2009 - 18:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/77094
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea fails to contact self-launched satellite
(ATTN: UPDATES with more details from para 2)
DAEJEON, Aug. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korean ground controllers failed Wednesday to
make contact with a satellite launched by the country's first space rocket as it
didn't reach the target orbit, a state research center said.
The Satellite Technology Research Center said it attempted to contact the Science
and Technology Satellite-2 (STSAT-2) earlier in the day, but it was unable to
establish contact.
The center said that because they did not have the exact orbital trajectory, its
communication antenna had been arranged to point towards the most likely area of
the sky that the satellite might pass from 3 a.m.
It added that efforts will be made to find the beacon signal transmitted by the
STSAT-2 that could allow ground controllers to determine if the satellite was in
orbit. A Norwegian communicators station that would have picked up the beacon 100
minutes after launch, also failed to detect the satellite's signals.
The Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) rocket successfully blasted off from
the country's space center on the south coast at 5 p.m. Tuesday, but it failed to
put the satellite into the intended orbit.
Preliminary data showed that the satellite separated from the second stage rocket
at an higher altitude than anticipated, likely placing it in a different orbit
trajectory and making it hard to locate, according to experts.
The satellite center based in Daejeon, 160km south of Seoul, is part of the Korea
Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), which built the STSAT-2.
Related to the failure to place the satellite in proper orbit, the state-run
Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) -- in overall charge of the KSLV-1
project -- said it has been working overnight with Russian engineers to determine
the exact cause of the mishap, and to find the STSAT-2's current orbit.
Finding the correct orbit is important because it could give ground controllers a
chance to make contact with the satellite.
South Korea with no experience in the launching of satellite-carrying space
rocket had teamed up with Russia since 2002 to build the KSLV-1 and the
scientific satellite.
The launch had been delayed a total of seven time since 2005 due to diplomatic,
technical problems and delays in the building of the launch facilities. The last
delay resulted in the countdown clock being stopped with less than eight minutes
remaining before blastoff.
Seoul had spent 502.5 billion won (US$402.4 million) on the development of the
140t KSLV-1, which stands 33 meters tall and has a diameter of 2.9 meters. It
also built the scientific satellite.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
DAEJEON, Aug. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korean ground controllers failed Wednesday to
make contact with a satellite launched by the country's first space rocket as it
didn't reach the target orbit, a state research center said.
The Satellite Technology Research Center said it attempted to contact the Science
and Technology Satellite-2 (STSAT-2) earlier in the day, but it was unable to
establish contact.
The center said that because they did not have the exact orbital trajectory, its
communication antenna had been arranged to point towards the most likely area of
the sky that the satellite might pass from 3 a.m.
It added that efforts will be made to find the beacon signal transmitted by the
STSAT-2 that could allow ground controllers to determine if the satellite was in
orbit. A Norwegian communicators station that would have picked up the beacon 100
minutes after launch, also failed to detect the satellite's signals.
The Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) rocket successfully blasted off from
the country's space center on the south coast at 5 p.m. Tuesday, but it failed to
put the satellite into the intended orbit.
Preliminary data showed that the satellite separated from the second stage rocket
at an higher altitude than anticipated, likely placing it in a different orbit
trajectory and making it hard to locate, according to experts.
The satellite center based in Daejeon, 160km south of Seoul, is part of the Korea
Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), which built the STSAT-2.
Related to the failure to place the satellite in proper orbit, the state-run
Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) -- in overall charge of the KSLV-1
project -- said it has been working overnight with Russian engineers to determine
the exact cause of the mishap, and to find the STSAT-2's current orbit.
Finding the correct orbit is important because it could give ground controllers a
chance to make contact with the satellite.
South Korea with no experience in the launching of satellite-carrying space
rocket had teamed up with Russia since 2002 to build the KSLV-1 and the
scientific satellite.
The launch had been delayed a total of seven time since 2005 due to diplomatic,
technical problems and delays in the building of the launch facilities. The last
delay resulted in the countdown clock being stopped with less than eight minutes
remaining before blastoff.
Seoul had spent 502.5 billion won (US$402.4 million) on the development of the
140t KSLV-1, which stands 33 meters tall and has a diameter of 2.9 meters. It
also built the scientific satellite.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
