S. Korea hopes to join orbital club soon.
South Korea ready to launch first satellite...soon?!
Following a North Korean “launch” of what appears to be an imaginary satellite earlier this year, South Korea planned to launch an actual satellite next week. But, for now, those plans have been delayed due to technical problems.
The rocket, whenever it’s launched, will use the 108 foot tall booster called the Korea Space Launch Vehicle 1. The KSLV-1 will put a 219 pound demonstration satellite into orbit.
Although billed by South Korea as a domestic launch vehicle, it was built with Korean and Russian parts. In fact, the first stage was designed and built by Khrunichev, a company in Moscow that built Russia’s Proton rocket. Of course, similar statements could be made about China’s manned space program, which enjoys critical assistance from Russian space engineers.
In any case, this is the second delay of the launch of this new Korean spacecraft. We hope third’s the charm.
