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South Korea successfully launched its first liquid fuel three-stage rocket Thursday in a crucial step in its bid to join the world's top aerospace nations, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute said. "The rocket was successfully launched at 14:52:26 pm (0552 GMT), a KARI spokesman said after the 14-meter-long (46.2-feet) rocket weighing six tonnes blasted off from a launch pad in Anheung in the central province of South Chungcheong. "It reached an altitude of 42.7 kilometers, 0.7 kilometers higher than expected, and flew 84 kilometers for 231.44 seconds before falling into the Yellow Sea," he said. The launch of the country's first liquid fuel rocket had been delayed by one day because of strong winds. The KSR-III rocket's successful launch means the country has secured the technology needed to develop a satellite-launching vehicle by 2005, the Ministry of Science and Technology said.
KARI embarked on the project in December 1997 with a total investment of 78 billion won (64 million dollars). KARI and the ministry plan to develop a satellite launch vehicle capable of putting a 100-kilogramme (220-pound) payload into orbit by 2005 and a lower-orbit commercial satellite by 2010. South Korea is aiming to join the world's top 10 aerospace powers by 2015. All rights reserved. © 2002 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse. Related Links SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express 
SKorean Rocket Ready For First Liquid-Fuel Test
Soeul - Nov 12, 2002South Korea's first liquid-fuel rocket is scheduled to be launched on Nov. 27, the Ministry of Science and Technology said Thursday. |
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