S. Korea notifies civil aviation, maritime bodies of space rocket launch

By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has officially notified international
civil aviation and maritime agencies of the planned launch of its space rocket
late next month, the government said Thursday.
The notification made to the International Civil Aviation Organization and
International Maritime Organization is designed to give advanced warning to ships
and planes operating near the launch site and along the trajectory of the rocket,
the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said.
The Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1), carrying a 100 kilogram scientific
satellite, is slated to be launched from the Naro Space Center, in the country's
southwest, on July 30.
The KSLV-1, which was made with Russian technological support, weighs 140 tons,
stands 33 meters tall and is roughly 3 meters across. It can generate a thrust of
170 tons and deliver the satellite to an altitude of 170 kilometers above the
earth, according to project officials.
The rocket is expected to reach orbit after flying near Jeju Island and over the
East China Sea.
"The notification is in line with standard practices and current international
conventions," a ministry official said.
Both the international civil aviation convention and the international convention
for safety of life at sea call for prior notification so navigation-related
charts can be updated to give notice of the launch.
The ministry, which is in charge of the launch, said that Seoul has also informed
the body overseeing the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile
Proliferation of the launch.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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