Delay expected in S. Korea`s planned launch of its 1st space rocket: gov`t

By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, July 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will highly likely postpone its first
space rocket launch scheduled for late this month due to technical complications,
the government said Thursday.
Russian authorities responsible for the first-stage rocket of the Korea Space
Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) will be able to conduct the vital pre-launch combustion
test after July 27 at the earliest, the Ministry of Education, Science and
Technology said.
Because the original launch date was set for July 30, there may not be enough
time to prepare the rocket for launch after conducting the test, the ministry
said.
The ministry did not elaborate on details, but said it has yet to take care of
technical matters that need to be handled.
"Russia's Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center sent an official
letter calling for negotiations on the launch schedule once the combustion test
is completed," a government official said.
He said the science ministry is examining all pertinent information related to
the possible delay and is making necessary adjustments.
The rocket, developed at a cost of 502.5 billion won (US$396.3 million), stands
33m tall, has a diameter of just under 3m and weighs 140t. The first stage
rocket, made in Russia and flown into South Korea last month, has a thrust of
170t, while the smaller, second-stage indigenous rocket can generate 8t of
thrust. The rocket is designed to deliver the 100kg satellite into orbit.
The government built the Naro Space Center, located 485km south of Seoul, to
launch the KSLV-1 and future rockets.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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