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ROK learns lessons from failed launch

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-08-27 09:42

SEOUL: A satellite delivered by the first space rocket to be launched by the Republic of Korea (ROK) is thought to have burned up in the Earth's atmosphere after it missed its designated orbit, officials said yesterday.

Despite Tuesday's setback, Seoul vowed to press on with its drive to become a space technology leader.

The satellite was lost after an equipment failure.

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The country's science and technology ministry said one of the two aerodynamic fairings covering the rocket's tip did not fall away after they opened in preparation for the satellite's release.

Because of the fairing's weight, the second stage of the rocket could not achieve enough thrust to place the satellite in orbit. Its speed fell to 6.2 km per second instead of an optimum 8 km per second.

Deputy science minister Kim Jung-Hyun said the extra weight also caused the rocket to steer upwards and the satellite was released at a higher altitude than planned.

"After reaching this height, it fell to Earth and was probably destroyed as it re-entered the atmosphere," Kim said.

The ROK had invested more than $400 million and much national pride in the satellite and the 33-m rocket.

The first stage was built in collaboration with Russia's Khrunichev space center. The second stage, including the defective fairings, was constructed by local engineers who also built the 100-kg research satellite.

The launch had been delayed seven times since 2005, most notably last week when the countdown was stopped eight minutes before blastoff.

Technology 'not mature'

Pang Zhihao, a researcher with the China Academy of Space Technology, said such a malfunction in space is not uncommon.

He noted that the technology provided by Russia is still not mature, and that the cost for its technical assistance was much higher than normal.

"Rocket launch technology could easily be transformed for military purposes, that's why many countries are very careful with exports of the technology," he said.

Pang said the ROK has lessons to learn from the accident, from both military, political and technical perspectives.

Cen Zheng, chief commander of Long March 3-A carrier rocket, said it is inevitable that missions to space will often fail. "But the ROK has taken at least the first step," he said.

The experience and data the ROK scientists have acquired from the launch will contribute greatly to their future endeavors, he said.

Korea Aerospace Research Institute expert Chae Yeon-Seok was more upbeat. "Despite the glitch, this was a success because all main systems, including the two brand-new first and second-stage rockets operated normally," Chae said.

The ROK has previously sent 10 satellites into space using launch vehicles from other countries.

AFP - China Daily