South Korea First Satellite Fails to Reach Orbit

World | August 25, 2009, Tuesday // 16:13|  views

The satellite should have separated at about 302 kilometers, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency. Photo by BGNES

South Korea's satellite launched from its first space rocket has failed to reach proper orbit after its launch on Tuesday.

"All aspects of the launch were normal, but the satellite exceeded its planned orbit and reached an altitude of 360 kilometers", Minister of Science and Technology, Ahn Byung-man, said.

The satellite should have separated at about 302 kilometers, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

The cause of the failure was not immediately known. Korean experts were working with Russian scientists, who provided the technology for launch, to determine the reason, Ahn said.

The Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 lifted off from the Naro Space Center on the southern coast Tuesday.

A series of delays had kept the rocket and its satellite payload earthbound for nearly four years, including a technical glitch that halted last week's countdown less than eight minutes before blastoff.

South Korea spent USD 402 M on the rocket, which is part of an ambitious plan to jump-start the country's space program, Yonhap reported.

Officials plan another rocket launch in April. The long-term goal is to create an unmanned space probe that can reach the moon by 2025, the agency reported.

 

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!


Tags: South Korea, satellite, rocket launch

Back  

» Related Articles:

Search

Search