Gov't to conduct space rocket launch safety check

By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, June 15 (Yonhap) -- The government said Monday that it will conduct a
full-fledged safety check to determine the readiness of controllers and agencies
that are preparing to launch the country's first space rocket next month.

The three-day-long exercise will begin Tuesday and simulate the actual launch of
the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) that will blast off from the Naro Space
Center in Goheung, 485 km south of Seoul, the Ministry of Education, Science and
Technology said.
The two-stage rocket is designed to carry a 100 kilogram scientific satellite
into space and is expected to be launched around July 30, although the exact date
will be determined by weather conditions.
"The exercise will involve limiting land, sea and air traffic near the space
center and the trajectory of the KSLV-1, with government agencies and the
military conducting drills to deal with possible natural catastrophes, fires, and
terrorism," Yoo Guk-hee, head of the ministry's space development division, said.
He stressed that every contingency will be examined in detail and simulated
realistically to ensure the safe launch of South Korea's first satellite-laden
space rocket.
The rocket, developed at a cost of 502.5 billion won (US$398.7 million), stands
33 meters tall, has a diameter of just under 3 meters and weighs 140 tons.
Besides the science ministry, the ministries of defense, transportation and
health, as well as the National Intelligence Service, the National Emergency
Management Agency, police and state-run Korea Aerospace Research Institute
(KARI), which assembled the rocket, satellite and space center, will also take
part in the exercise.
KARI and related agencies had conducted an in-door examination of all systems
connected with the planned launch last week with the new drill to be used to
check for any shortcomings or oversight of the launch protocol.
The science ministry, which is in charge of the launch, said one more exercise
involving residences near the space center may be carried out before the launch
as a final dress rehearsal.
If the launch is successful, South Korea will become the 13th country to have
built and launched its own satellite and rocket from its own soil. In the past
the country sent into orbit 10 satellites using foreign rockets and overseas
launch pads.
Because the success rate of a first launch stands at around 27 percent, Seoul has
repeatedly delayed launch to ensure that there are no complications.
KARI said that in case the rocket veers off course, it will be destroyed by
remote control to limit any serious damage. An identical KSLV-1 rocket that is
being built with Russian cooperation is scheduled to be launched in April 2010 as
a backup to the first launch and to allow South Korea to gain more experience.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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