By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter

South Korean ambitions to launch the country’s first space rocket by the end of the year will have to wait another few months.

In a much-anticipated announcement Friday, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), the country’s space agency, said the rocket launch would be pushed back to sometime during the second quarter of next year due to the late delivery of components for the launch pad and the decision to strengthen pre-flight system checks.

KARI had planned to send its Korea Space Launch Vehicle (KSLV-1), a carrier rocket designed for transporting satellites, into orbit on Dec. 21 from Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province.

The decision to reschedule the launch was made after a meeting with the space agency and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

``Obviously, the priority is to put ourselves in the best position for a successful launch and it wouldn’t be reasonable for us to try too hard to meet the target date,” said Lee Ki-seong, an official from the ministry’s space development department.

Lee said the earthquake in Sichuan in May has contributed to the late delivery of rocket parts manufactured in China.

The ministry also said it will form a special panel with Russian space authorities to examine the preparation for the KLVS-1 launch.

The delay was pretty much expected after Russia’s Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, which is providing technology for the project, failed to deliver the ground test vehicle (GTV), a machine for testing the rocket engine and propulsion system, in time. The Russians had also requested the rocket launch to be pushed back, saying that the launch pad currently being built in Goheung will not be ready until at least March.

The GTV will be delivered through the Gimhae International Airport on Saturday, roughly a month later than original planned.

The ministry said earlier in the week that the rocket has been insured for 200 billion won (about $195 million) to cover any damage caused during the launch and operation of the KLSV-1.

The KSLV-1 is a dual-structured rocket, and the Russians are expected to build the lower assembly that contains the liquid-fuelled propulsion system. The upper part of the rocket, which carries the satellite, is made using domestic technology.

thkim@koreatimes.co.kr