Naro launch delayed for seventh time

GOHEUNG, South Jeolla Province - The launch of Korea`s first space rocket was delayed once again yesterday after problems in a high-pressure tank were detected with less than eight minutes remaining in the countdown.

The liftoff of Naro, or Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1, came to an abrupt halt 7 minutes and 56 seconds before the launch time set, which had been set at 5 p.m. The two-stage rocket was to carry a 100-kilogram Korean-made experimental satellite into a low earth orbit.

"The cause of the launch suspension is presumed to be the decline in the pressure in the high-pressure tank, which operates valves in the rocket," said Lee Sang-mok, head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

Lee said that Korean and Russian engineers, who developed the first-stage rocket, were in a meeting to identify the exact cause of the problems, adding that more details will be given later.



"The launch of rockets developed by other countries, including Europe`s Arian and the U.S. Endeavor, were also delayed several times after problems were detected before liftoff. After a thorough analysis, we will try to make the rocket launch a success," Lee said.

Oxidation agents and kerosene, which were injected to power the first-stage rocket, were removed and it would take at least several days to make Naro ready for blastoff, officials said.

The state-run Korea Aerospace Research Institute said that a new launch date would be set after consultation with Russian engineers. KARI has been in charge of the rocket launch since the project began in 2002.

The ministry set a launch window extending through next Wednesday, given the possibility of unexpected issues arising.

The launch of Naro from the Naro Space Center, the country`s first spaceport in the southern coastal county, was originally scheduled for 2005, but was delayed six times before yesterday.

Naro, which weighs 140 tons and measures 33.5 meters in length and 2.9 meters in diameter, has been jointly developed by KARI and Russia`s Khrunichev State Space Science and Production Center.

The Russian institute has developed the liquid fuel first-stage rocket, which is powered by liquid oxygen and kerosene, and generates a thrust of 170 tons.

The solid fuel second-stage rocket, which is powered by a "kick motor" and generates a thrust of eight tons, has been developed by KARI.

The second stage was to carry into orbit "the Science and Technology Satellite 2," which was jointly developed by KAIST, and the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology. The satellite has a two-year lifespan.

Korea has spent 502.4 billion won ($400 million) on the project, which began in August 2002. About 40 percent of that amount has been paid to the Russian organization.

The country plans to launch a 1.5-ton multi-purpose commercial satellite on a fully indigenous rocket, named KSLV-2, possibly in 2018.

The country also has a long-term space exploration program. It plans to develop a lunar orbiter by 2020 and a lunar probe by 2025.

(sshluck@heraldm.com)



By Song Sang-ho