South Korean space rocket explodes
Source: Agencies |
June 11, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A SOUTH Korean rocket carrying a climate observation satellite apparently exploded 137 seconds into its flight early yesterday, the country's second major space setback in less than a year.
The two-stage Naro rocket operated normally during and after liftoff from the country's space center, said Education, Science and Technology Minister Ahn Byong-man. But then communications with the rocket were lost after it reached an altitude of about 70 kilometers.
"We believe that the Naro rocket is likely to have exploded," he told reporters. "We are sorry for failing to live up to people's expectations."
An image from a camera aboard the Naro brightened like a flash of light, possibly evidence of an explosion, Ahn said.
He said South Korean and Russian experts were trying to find the cause of the mishap. The first stage of the rocket was designed and built by Russia and the second by South Korea.
Ahn said that South Korea will begin preparations to announce a new launch date as soon as the origin of the problem is determined.
Ministry spokesman Pyun Kyung-bum said that debris from the rocket is believed to have fallen into the sea 470 kilometers south of Oenaro Island, which is home to the space center.
The blastoff at the coastal space center in Goheung, 465 kilometers south of Seoul, was the country's second launch of a rocket from its own territory.
In the first attempt last August, the satellite failed to reach orbit because one of its two covers apparently failed to come off after liftoff. The rocket on which it was carried functioned normally, so South Korea saw that launch as a partial success.
Since 1992, South Korea has launched 11 satellites from overseas sites, all on foreign-made rockets.
The launch was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but was delayed a day because fire retardant suddenly sprayed from three nozzles set up near the launch pad to extinguish any blaze.
South Korea wants to put a satellite into orbit to study global warming.
South Koreans are intensely proud of their country's rise from devastation and poverty after the end of the Korean War as well as their reputation for advanced technology and were closely observing the launch. About 100 people watched it on big screen televisions at Seoul's main railway station. People applauded when the rocket blasted off, though the mood turned anxious after the first news of a problem.
"I'm disappointed because maybe this tells me that Korea doesn't have the right technology yet," said Yoon Ho-soo, a writer who was sitting in front of a central Seoul subway station last night.
South Korea plans to develop a space launch vehicle with its own technology by 2020.
The two-stage Naro rocket operated normally during and after liftoff from the country's space center, said Education, Science and Technology Minister Ahn Byong-man. But then communications with the rocket were lost after it reached an altitude of about 70 kilometers.
"We believe that the Naro rocket is likely to have exploded," he told reporters. "We are sorry for failing to live up to people's expectations."
An image from a camera aboard the Naro brightened like a flash of light, possibly evidence of an explosion, Ahn said.
He said South Korean and Russian experts were trying to find the cause of the mishap. The first stage of the rocket was designed and built by Russia and the second by South Korea.
Ahn said that South Korea will begin preparations to announce a new launch date as soon as the origin of the problem is determined.
Ministry spokesman Pyun Kyung-bum said that debris from the rocket is believed to have fallen into the sea 470 kilometers south of Oenaro Island, which is home to the space center.
The blastoff at the coastal space center in Goheung, 465 kilometers south of Seoul, was the country's second launch of a rocket from its own territory.
In the first attempt last August, the satellite failed to reach orbit because one of its two covers apparently failed to come off after liftoff. The rocket on which it was carried functioned normally, so South Korea saw that launch as a partial success.
Since 1992, South Korea has launched 11 satellites from overseas sites, all on foreign-made rockets.
The launch was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but was delayed a day because fire retardant suddenly sprayed from three nozzles set up near the launch pad to extinguish any blaze.
South Korea wants to put a satellite into orbit to study global warming.
South Koreans are intensely proud of their country's rise from devastation and poverty after the end of the Korean War as well as their reputation for advanced technology and were closely observing the launch. About 100 people watched it on big screen televisions at Seoul's main railway station. People applauded when the rocket blasted off, though the mood turned anxious after the first news of a problem.
"I'm disappointed because maybe this tells me that Korea doesn't have the right technology yet," said Yoon Ho-soo, a writer who was sitting in front of a central Seoul subway station last night.
South Korea plans to develop a space launch vehicle with its own technology by 2020.
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