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(LEAD) S. Korea plans to launch 2nd space rocket on June 9
SEOUL, April 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to send its second locally assembled rocket into space on June 9, the government said Monday.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) will be launched between 16:30-18:40 although local weather conditions at the Naro Space Center, located 485 kilometers south of Seoul, can cause adjustment in the date and time. | | Data picture |
"The date for the launch has been set after comprehensive review of ongoing launch preparations, technical evaluations and to avoid possible collisions with satellites and other objects currently circling the Earth," said Deputy Science and Technology Minister Kim Young-sik.
He added that if adverse weather conditions or unexpected technical problems arise that may make it hard to meet the pre-set date, the country plans to reserve a "launch window" up till June 19 to get the rocket into space.
The Russian-made first stage booster rocket arrived earlier in the month and will be assembled with the locally built second-stage rocket and scientific satellite by the end of May.
At present each part of the first and second stage rockets and the satellite is being checked and tested individually by engineers to make certain there are no glitches.
The official said a final consultation with Russian engineers will be held in early June to check overall readiness with the KSLV-1, also called Naro-1, to be moved from the rocket assembly building to the launch pad two days before the planned launch.
"The final 'go-ahead' for the launch will be given on site by experts on the day of the launch after checking all considerations," Kim said.
He added that while Seoul can arrange for a third rocket launch with Russia -- its partner in the space rocket program -- if problems occur again, all efforts are currently focused on getting the satellite into proper orbit this time.
Seoul has been reluctant to discuss any contingency plans if the second rocket launch fails.
Park Jeong-joo, head of the KSLV Systems Office at the state-run Korea Aerospace Research Institute, said every effort has been made to check and correct problems found after the "half successful" blastoff of the first Naro-1 last August.
The first attempt to get a satellite into orbit ran into problems when the fairing assembly that covers the satellite failed to come off properly. The malfunction caused the rocket to veer off course and made it impossible to place the satellite into orbit.
"The electrical wiring, mechanical systems and explosives that are designed to release the fairing covers have been modified in light of last year's experience with all related tests carried out successfully," the researcher said.
South Korea, with no experience in building space rockets, sought Russian help in 2002 for the KSLV-1 project. The country has since spent 502.5 billion won (US$451.4 million) on the rocket building effort with Russia's Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center providing the main booster rocket and overall technical assistance.
The ministry, meanwhile, said both the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization will be notified of the launch plan to warn aircraft and ships. The approximate landing zone for the first stage rocket will be made public as well to avoid accidents.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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