 Engineers at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) examine the Russianmade first-stage of the Korea Space Launch Vehicle 1 (KSLV-1) at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, last Monday. / Courtesy of KARI |
By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter
Korea is planning its second attempt to put a domestically made satellite into orbit on June 9 from its space center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province.
The same type of Russian rocket as in the first failed attempt in August will be used in the upcoming launch.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) is scheduled to take off between 4:30 p.m. and 6:40 p.m., if the weather conditions are good at the Naro Space Center, located 485 kilometers south of Seoul.
"The date was set after close consultation with technical experts, reviews of ongoing launch preparations and to avoid possible collisions with satellites currently circling the Earth," the ministry said.
If technical or weather problems arise, the ministry may be able to adjust the launch time during the "window of opportunity" that will stay open until June 19.
The Russian-made first stage booster rocket arrived earlier in the month and will be attached to the locally built second-stage rocket and scientific satellite by the end of May.
The ministry said Russian engineers will be consulted in early June to check for overall readiness. The assembled rocket with its payload will be put on the launch pad two days before blastoff.
As required, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization will be notified of the launch schedule so as to have aircraft and ships maintain a safe distance.
The planned launch follows the "half successful" blastoff of the first KSLV-1 last August.
The first attempt to put a satellite into orbit failed when the fairing assembly that covered the satellite failed to unfurl properly, causing the rocket to veer off course and making it impossible to place the satellite into orbit.
South Korea enlisted Russian help in 2002 for the KSLV-1 project. Korea has since spent 502.5 billion won ($451.4 million) on building the rocket, and related expenses.
나로호, 6월9일 2차 발사 계획
나로호의 2차 발사가 오는 6월 9일 오후 전라남도 고흥으로 정해졌다.
교육과학기술부와 한국항공우주연구원은 나로호 점검 상황과 날씨 상황을 고려해 나로호를 6월9일에 발사하기로 결정했다고 밝혔다.
나로호 지난 1차 발사는 궤도 진입에 실패했으며, 한국은 2002년 러시아의 원조를 받아, 현재까지 로켓 제조와 그 외 비용에 5025억 원을 투자했다.
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