3 possible causes of space rocket loss isolated

Korean investigators have isolated three possible causes behind the loss of the Naro-1 rocket last year and will set up a joint review panel with Russian counterparts to determine the exact reason, the government said Thursday.

The science ministry said investigators who began work on June 15, five days after the Naro-1 rocket blew up during liftoff, confirmed that the two-stage, 140-ton rocket experienced a "shock" 136.3 seconds after launch followed by an internal explosion one second later that caused all contact to be lost.

The 17-person team made up of experts not working for the state-run Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) tentatively reached an understanding that there may have been a problem involving both the locally made second stage solid-fuel rocket or the first stage liquid cryogenic booster manufactured by Russia. Seoul with no experience in making space rockets jointly built the Naro-1 with help from Russia.

It said a detailed analysis of downloaded telemetry data, video images and other vital information that have been shared by South Korea and Russia, indicated that they may have been three possible causes.

Investigators said accidental activation of the flight termination system in the second solid-fuel rocket, or a malfunction in the oxidation and compression systems in the first stage rocket may have brought down the Naro-1. It also said that unknown problems with rocket separation explosives between the first and second stages could have resulted in the rocket's loss.

"At present, no conclusions have been reached since it is hard to test all the hypotheses in laboratory simulations alone," the ministry said.

It said that to help determine the exact cause, a joint 30-person team of experts from the two countries will be set up within the month to check all the known data.

This team will be independent of the Failure Review Board manned by KARI and Russia's Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center that was unable to narrow down differences related to the failed mission despite four meetings.

"The new team plans to hold its first meeting in late July after examining all evidence," it said.

The ministry, meanwhile, said that since the investigation will require time, the third Naro-1 rocket launch will not take place within the year.

South Korea spent over 502 billion won ($465 million) on the project since 2002 with the first Naro-1 or Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 rocket being launched in August 25, 2009 followed by a second attempt on June 10, 2010. Both attempts failed to place a scientific satellite into orbit. (Yonhap)