[THE INVESTOR] A few technical glitches have led to the postponement of the test-launch of Korea’s next-generation space rocket, officials said July 1.

The government had planned to complete the development of a two-stage test rocket by 2017 as part of a long-term project to produce an indigenous three-stage KSLV-2 rocket.

Korea aims to launch a moon orbiter as early as 2020.

In a report to the government, however, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute said it will have to delay the test-launch by about 10 months.



It cited a problem in the combustion of a 75-ton engine and more trouble in the welding of a fuel tank, according to the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.

“It’s true that the launch was delayed,” a ministry official said, adding a new schedule has yet to be fixed.

He said the KARI has the technology to resolve the problem, although it’s uncertain how soon it will be able to do so.

In 2013, Korea launched the KSLV-I space rocket, or Naro-I, from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, putting a satellite into orbit. But it heavily depended on Russian technology.

(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)