South Korea's Moon vows 'Korea space age' after rocket test falters
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[October 21, 2021]
By Josh Smith
GOHEUNG, South Korea (Reuters) - South
Korea's first domestically built space rocket blasted off on Thursday,
but failed to fully place a dummy satellite into orbit, delivering mixed
results for a test launch that represents a major leap for the country's
ambitious space plans.
The three-stage KSLV-II Nuri rocket, emblazoned with the national flag,
rose on a column of flame from its launch pad at Naro Space Center at 5
p.m. (0800 GMT).
The Nuri, or "world", rocket is designed to put 1.5-tonne payloads into
orbit 600 to 800 km (370 to 500 miles) above Earth, as part of a broader
space effort that envisages the launch of satellites for surveillance,
navigation, and communications, and even lunar probes.
President Moon Jae-in, who watched the launch from the space centre,
said the rocket completed its flight sequences but failed to place the
test payload into orbit.
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"Unfortunately, we did not fully reach our goal," he said in a speech at
the site.
Moon praised the workers and said despite the incomplete mission, the
project would press ahead.
"It's not long before we'll be able to launch it exactly into the target
trajectory," he said according to a transcript. "The 'Korea Space Age'
is approaching."
Officials said the final stage of the rocket appeared to shut down 40-50
seconds early, so the payload did not reach the speed needed for its
target orbit. The cause of the early shutoff was still being
investigated, but it may have been a lack of pressure inside the fuel
tank, a premature command from control computers, or other factors,
officials said.
"Today's launch left some disappointment, but it is significant as it
was the first test of the launch vehicle independently developed with
our own technology," science and technology minister Lim Hye-sook told a
briefing. "It's meaningful to confirm that all major launch steps were
carried out and we have secured core technology."
As the briefing ended, one apparently emotional official bowed and said:
"Please support us to make the launch successful in May next year."
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KSLV-II NURI rocket launches from its launch pad of the Naro Space
Center in Goheung, South Korea, October 21, 2021. Yonhap via REUTERS
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Overseen by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute
(KARI), the 200-tonne rocket was moved to its launch pad on
Wednesday and raised into position next to a towering green support
structure perched on a launch pad over cliffs that drop into the
sea.
The rocket's three stages were powered by liquid-fuel boosters built
by an affiliate of South Korea's Hanwha conglomerate, with a cluster
of four 75-tonne boosters in the first stage, another 75-tonne
booster in the second, and a single 7-tonne rocket engine in the
final stage.
KARI said it plans to conduct as many as five more test launches
before the rocket regularly carries real payloads.
The next test is currently scheduled for May 19.
Space launches have long been a sensitive issue on the Korean
peninsula, where North Korea faces sanctions over its nuclear-armed
ballistic missile programme.
South Korea's plans call for launching a range of military
satellites in future, but officials deny that the NURI has any use
as a weapon itself.
The country's last such rocket, launched in 2013 after delays and
failed tests, was jointly developed with Russia.
Having its own launch vehicle will give South Korea the flexibility
to determine payload types and launch schedules, and benefits South
Korean companies, officials told Reuters.
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(Reporting by Josh Smith; Additional reporting by Heekyong Yang in
Seoul; Editing by Stephen Coates, Clarence Fernandez and Giles
Elgood)
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