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South Korea is aspiring to be a key player in space technology,
competing with its Asian neighbors.
The technical glitches are most likely communication errors
between computers that control a helium relief valve, officials
say. The vehicle itself does not show any problems, so it will
remain on the launch pad for a rescheduled test.
South Korea's deputy science minister, Oh Tae-seok, told a
briefing that a meeting on Thursday would decide when another
launch could take place, perhaps as early as Thursday afternoon.
In June 2022, the country successfully launched its domestically
produced Nuri rocket and placed working and dummy satellites
into orbit in its second test.
The third test would be the first to load and launch a
commercial-grade satellite aboard the Nuri vehicle, standing on
the pad at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, on the southwestern
tip of South Korea.
The country plans to carry out three more test launches of the
Nuri system by 2027.
The planned launch on Wednesday also comes amid an arms race
around South and North Korea, which are technically still at war
since the 1950-1953 Korean War ended in an armistice.
North Korea is preparing to launch its first military spy
satellite, state media has reported. South Korea has no military
surveillance satellites, relying on information from its major
ally the United States.
(Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Tom Hogue and Gerry Doyle)
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