Gov't to announce follow up plan for rocket launch

By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) -- The government on Friday said it will announce a
follow-up plan for its delayed first rocket launch later in the day that could
set a new blastoff date.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said a senior official will be
present at the press briefing at the Central Government Complex in Seoul at 3
p.m.
The Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1), also called Naro-1, was slated to
liftoff at 5 p.m on Wednesday from the Naro Space Center, 485km south of Seoul,
but the countdown was stopped about eight minutes before ignition of the main
engine due to a technical glitch.
South Korean and Russian engineers have since determined that there were no
mechanical problems and that the glitch was caused by software misinterpreting
data from a high-pressure helium tank. The tank and its gas are used to control
various valves in the rocket.
"Engineers and policymakers are meeting to evaluate all the data collected so far
to determine the best date to reschedule a launch," a ministry official said.
He said Minister of Education, Science and Technology Ahn Byong-man may make the
announcement and explain all developments related to the measures that have been
taken to fix the glitch at the upcoming briefing.
The rocket was moved to the assembly complex on Thursday so engineers can better
conduct repairs.
Sources said that a possible launch date may be set for next Tuesday or Wednesday
since the software repairs can be made by Saturday.
The Naro-1 rocket stands 33 meters tall with a diameter of 2.9 meters. Its main
first stage liquid-fuel rocket, made in Russia, can generate 170 tons of thrust.
The second stage rocket, made indigenously, can generate 8 tons of thrust and is
designed to place the satellite into proper orbit.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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