Text Fwd: Navy retrieves Naro rocket debris

Image source: Hankyoreh: 'Naro lifts off at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla, June 10.'　

Korea Times
06-11-2010 18:32
Navy retrieves Naro rocket debris
By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff reporter

The Korean navy Friday recovered what is believed to be debris from the Korea Space Launch Vehicle 1 (KSLV-1) that exploded shortly after liftoff, Thursday.

According to officials at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, two pieces of wreckage were retrieved in international waters, south of Jeju Island, and were brought to Korean and Russian experts for further inspection.

However, engineers at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), the country's space agency, will have limited access to the recovered material, as the technology standard agreement (TSA) signed between Russia and Korea bans any technology transfer regarding their joint project.


* Related article

Hankyoreh
Posted on : Jun.11,2010 12:21 KST
Naro explodes shortly after takeoff Experts say the exhaustion of researchers and officials in order to expedite the rocket's launch may have led to careless mistakes

Some points that should be Noticed from the failed Naro Rocket launch

The Naro space rocket with the payload of a science satellite lifts off from the launch pad at the space center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, Thursday evening. At right are three sequential shots taken from footage by television station KBS that show, from top, the rocket exploding. / Korea Times

* Image source: Jeju News, May 13, 2008 'Jeju tracking center'

* Image source: Global Security, 'Naro Space Center'

"The Naro Space Center is on 5 million square meters of reclaimed land on Naro Island in Goheung County, South Jeolla, about 485 kilometers south of Seoul. The spaceport, under the management of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, includes a launch pad, a control building, rocket assembly and test facilities, facilities for satellite control testing and assembly, electric power station, a space science museum and a landing field.

The construction of the Korea Space Center began in August 2003 with a budget of 315.5 billion won.As of November 2008, the Naro Space Center had already completed construction of the launch pad, the main control center, radar tracking stations and other facilities. Engineers were conducting autonomous tests of the facilities which were expected to be completed by the year's end. The first launch was originally planned for December 2008 but was postponed till 2Q, 2009. Once the facility becomes fully operational, Korea will be able to achieve its goal of building a satellite and rocket with local technology and launching it into space from its own launch center."

* Image source: hankyoreh on June 8, 2010

# According to the Korea Times regarding the failed rocket launch, on June 10, 2010,

"A number experts of also suggested that the country was fortunate to
avoid a disaster as ground control was unable to command the wayward
rocket to self-destruct with communications being out, which may have
led to shuddering consequences had debris crashed onto land."

"KARI later confirmed that the debris has fallen in the waters off the
southern coast of Jeju Island."

# The Jeju tracking station in the Korean bird-eye view in the Korean Hankyoreh newspaper on June 8, 2010

# More on Naro Space Center

__________________________________________________________
# Related blog

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/08/2_30.html

[영문 번역: Article Fwd] Why Don't Make Voice against the Rocket Naro?
Weekly Kyunghyang, Sept. 1, 2009
[인터뷰] 왜 나로호에 목소리 내지 않는가?, 위클리 경향, 2009년 9월 1일자 발간

Text Fwd: [Breaking news] Launch of NARO Space Rocket Postponed

Hankyoreh
[Breaking news] Launch of NARO Space Rocket Postponed
June 9, 2010

The launch of the first Korea Space Launch Vehicle NARO was postponed due to a malfunction in the fire extinguishing equipment on the launch pad, June 9.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said agents found defects in the fire extinguishing equipment installed at the launch pad to put out any fires resulting from the rocket’s launch.

The ministry said the Naro rocket management committee decided to suspend the launch and South Korean and Russian experts are trying to find out what caused the malfunction. The committee said the launch would be rescheduled, which had been set for 5 p.m. Wednesday.
____________________________________________________________

* Related article

Korea Times
Korea delays rocket launch
June 9, 2010

Text Fwd: Space rocket to be launched as scheduled

Korea Times
Space rocket to be launched as scheduled
06-08-2010 10:27

The government decided Tuesday to go forward with the scheduled launch of its locally assembled space rocket after engineers corrected a problem in the electrical system.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) said the Naro-1 rocket will be launched on Wednesday as planned since the problem with the ground measurement system (GMS) has been corrected.

The system allows rocket controllers to determine the state of the rocket before it blasts off into space.

"A rocket control committee headed by Vice Science Minister Kim Jung-hyun, which met earlier in the day, opted to move forward with the launch since the problem has been fixed," a ministry official said.

Engineers on Monday detected abnormal signals from the GMS while the rocket was being connected to the erector arm on the launch pad.

After dissembling and checking the connectors on the electrical system, South Korean engineers said they had corrected the problem.

KARI, meanwhile, said that it will move forward with final systems checks starting at 11 a.m. to see if the rocket is ready for launch. The final approval for the blastoff is expected to be made Wednesday.

Image Fwd: Observation tower for Naro Space Center

Yonhap News

'Observation tower for Naro Space Center

Dec. 29, GOHEUNG, South Korea -- This is an artist redering of an observation tower to be set up on a mountain, 12km from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province. Due to be built by the first half of 2011, the 47-meter tower will provide a clear view of rockets launched from the spece center. (Yonhap)'

[영문 번역: Article Fwd] Why Don't Make Voice against the Rocket Naro?

* Below is the temporary English transaltion of the article in the photo. It is the interview with Bruce K. Gagnon, Secretary of the Global Network against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space(www.space4peace.org, space4peace.blogspot.com) by Mr. Jeong, Yong-In, reporter from the Weekly Kyunghyang. Its website version is here.

http://weekly.khan.co.kr/khnm.html?mode=view&code=116&artid=200908271140231

Through this article, Bruce Gagnon was selected as the 'Today's Figure' with the title, ' “ Today’s Figure, Secretary, Bruce Gagnon, ‘Why Don’t Make the Voice Against the Rocket Naro’” by the Daum website on Aug. 27, 2009. The second site recorded the demographics of the readers.

http://media.daum.net/?t__nil_news=title

http://issue.media.daum.net/society/people/who_view.html?cateid=&issueid=2734&photoid=&cpid=&newsId=20090827145222365&cp=weeklykh



Interview

“ Why Don’t [you] Make the Voice against
the Rocket, Naro?”

Bruce Gagnon, Secretary of the Global Network

against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space

Sept. 1, 2009 Weekly Kyunghyang, No. 840
Jeong, Yong-In, inqbus@kyunghyang.com


• photo captions

1. Bruce Gagnon, Secretary of the Global Network, interviewing with the Weekly Kyunghyang (photo by reporter, Kim, Suk-Ku(spelling?)

2. Bruce Gagnon, Secretary of the Global Network (third from the left) is having the denouncing statement at the press interview for the urge to stop the Ulchi Freedom Guardian training, sponsored by the SPARK, at the TANGO base, Seongnam, Kyunggi-do, on Aug. 17. (Yonhap News)


“ The South Koreans should ask themselves for what the rocket would be launched this time, whether it has only simply the good purpose as known to the public. Further, they have to ask what relationship the South Korean space program has with the space control & domination policies of the United States.

It is the ‘opinion’ by Bruce Gagnon, an United States peace activist on the launch of the rocket NARO (KSLV-1). He is in charge of the secretary of the Global Network against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space (afterward, Global Network). This international organization, affiliated by the 150 groups in the world was founded in 1992. In the South Korea, Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea (SPARK) and the Peace Network have participated in it. Gagnon initiated the foundation of this organization and has worked on it.

He made a keynote speech, participating in the ‘International Conference against the Asia Pacific Missile Defense and End of Arms Race’ last April. His revisit this time for a week since Aug. 14 is after the speeches and symposiums upon the invitation of Mayor Akiba Tadadosi, Hiroshima, Japan. It was Aug. 18 that I interviewed him. A day before the launch of the rocket Naro was planned.

He said that, “It is surprising that there is almost none opinion claim even among the peace activists here” (Anyhow, the launch of the rocket Naro was stopped remaining seven minute 56 seconds for ‘the lack of software’) He claimed that we should clearly know that the rocket Naro have the military purpose such as carrying war and corporate profit. Military purpose of the rocket Naro? It has been a seldom known story. However, once researched, it is mentioned in some sites.

The Seoul sinmun [* meaning newspaper] reported on Aug. 19 that “ The Korean Aegis Destroyer Sejong, the Great carries the exercise to trace the orbit of the rocket Naro at the same time with the launch of the rocker Naro.” The newspaper predicted that “It would be a kind of an information war on the sea among the powerful countries near the vicinity of the Korean peninsula, which would check the Aegis system one another and try to detect the South Korean’s space development ability.” However, is it that the mission of the scientific technology satellite No. 2 is to measure the radiation energy of the earth and air/ overseas for minutes for two years, isn’t it?


The Unknown Military Purpose of the Rocket Naro

Does the opinion of the Secretary, Gagnon means the [satellite] has the dual purpose such as the military appropriation while it is claimed to have the peaceful use of the space on surface?

“ Yes. There are dual purposes in all the space plans by all the countries. I think there is a need to point out a hypocrisy here. There have been the blames against the North Korea when it launched the satellite and even the words of the interception of it. However, nobody blames the South Korea when it launches the rocket. This is really a hypocrisy. It should be mentioned that the military purpose is applied to the both.”

There is a difference. Hasn’t the process in case of the North Korea been secretly processed, has it? On the other hand, in the case of the rocket Naro, the process has been open. There has been the historical experience that the [South Korea’s] independent technology development of the [rocket] has been frustrated after its drive of it by the Park Jung-Hee regime because of the curb by the United States in the 70s, as in the case of the nuclear. Since then, the South Korea chose the way of the open development of it under the control of the United States.

“ That’s right. The United States tries to draw many of its alliance countries under its control. The space development of the South Korea and Japan is the one example. The Space Command in the United States boasts that the space industry project is the largest industry project in the history of the earth. Thus, it takes enormous cost and because the United States can not pay all that huge cost alone, it tries to hand over the economic burden to the other (countries). Despite that, the development process is under the total control of the United States.

Is the United States the center of the ‘Weaponization of Space?’ Was the old Soviet the same with the United states, having the space development race, for example, wasn’t it?

“ During the eight years of [President] Bill Clinton, eight years of [President] Bush and to the current administration of Barak Obama, the Russia and China have presented the resolution preventing the space weapons to the United Nations. Thus every year, these two countries have presented the new treaty on it to the General Assembly of the U. N. but only three countries have been opposing it. Do you know which countries they are?”

I don’t know.

The United States, Israel and the Micronesia. The reason that Micronesia opposes is because there is the U.S. launch base in the Kwajallen atoll. Those countries oppose it for the two reasons. The first is to control and dominate the space. The Second is to prevent the other countries’ use of access to space. If you go to the U.S. space command, there is the logo of master of space. In other words, it means who controls the space can control and dominate the earth.

Let’s return to the issue of Naro. Is the mission of the Naro for the scientific, peaceful purpose such as the measuring of air, isn’t it? You, Secretary’s words sound like the radical claim to oppose all the scientific technology such as the Luddite movement (machine destruction movement) in the 19th century.

“ I and the organization I am related to never oppose the technology in general. The organization, as its name opposes the weaponization and militarization of space. We watch the baseball game and sees the weathercast through satellite. Some of the people participating in our organization are famous scientists. Our core concern is to prevent the wars caused by the wrong use of technology.“


The Organization Widely Known for the Cassini Campaign

There are many organizations demanding anti-war. It could be thought to be far away from the issues in the reality to talk about the space weapon and war. Is there any religious background or relationship with it? For example, the Raelian often talks about the ‘space issue’ as well.

“ It is a rather moral, ethical question than the religious. We need to ask the moral, ethical question whether it is right to pay the enormous cost to it at the sacrifice of such as, healthcare, education and all the things that we can give to our next generations. During my 27 year works on this movement, I know that one can not well deal with the peace issues without dealing with the space issues. We need to inform people that the efforts of the abolishing the nuclear weapons are closely connected to the space issues.

Even though it is not known domestically, it is since the campaign related to the Cassini probe plan initiated by the NASA and the ESA[?] that the ‘Global Network’ has spread it name in the world . The Cassini probe plan, 1997 is the project to explore the Saturn and Titan, the Saturn’s satellite and to return back to earth. And the Global Network warned that plutonium was used in the Cassini space craft. As a result, the Cassini had to be changed with its original plan to orbit within 500mile from the earth to 500mile above it. It was the victory of campaign. During the trip to the Saturn, plutonium was not used as a fuel. It was only used for the maintenance of the electric facilities on board. However, Gagnon says the Cassini was like the ‘icebreaker’ or “Trojan horse’ . He recalls, “ The general public did not even know the Cassini spacecraft plan, and the NASA was telling them on it as it has only the pure scientific mission. Our job as activists was to reveal how the Cassini spacecraft had the deadly relationship with the nuclear industry. Even though it was not directly related to the military use of it, the Cassini campaign with the use of the nuclear power, was the opening gate to test its possibility .”

The military industry complex have announced that the nuclear power is the only solution for the strong propelling power for the long time space flight, and it is the claim of these grous that it has become the common sense while repeatedly injected the claim. Then why they make the matter of life and death to keep the expansion of the nuclear power?

“ The reason is that the nuclear industry thinks the space as the new market such as for the nuclear reactor, rocket and engine. They claim it to make the mining colony in the Moon and Mars in the long term. But the plutonium is the matter. According to the report of an energy related organization, plutonium has contaminated air, water and workers. We oppose it to move it to space.”

The Lee Myung Bak administration has recently gotten entangled as to announce the full participation of the PSI and postpone it upon the North Korea’s missile launch and nuclear tests. The experts are thinking that the PSI participation would be automatically linked to the participation in MD.

“ The MD issue is the core issue of the Global Network. The United States wants to deploy the Missile Defense system in many countries in the world. MD, despite its name, Missile Defense is not for the defense but for preemptive attack. For example, if Russia takes aim at the United States with 100 nuclear missiles, the limited Missile Defense system can not cover it. In other words, only through the preemptive attack, the MD can work.”

According to you, it means not defense but offense, then why did the people who drove it name it as defense ?

“ Because only by that, it could be sold. If you see the real content [of the MD], it is very expensive, provoking (the counter-part who is the target for attack) and the imperfect system. The PAC3 in the Asia Pacific is shown to be not only against the North Korea but also against the China. Last April, the United States Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, saying ‘ More Aegis Destroyers would be converted to be outfitted with the ballistic missile defense’ has had the significant remarks that ‘ It would help to counter the China.’.

The Progressive Front of the United States, Disappointed by the Stagnation of the Reform by Obama

The MD issue of the North East Asia has been long-time issue though. How is the case of Obama? Does he want to maintain the policy [of the predecessors] ? Was he elected by the support of many people, for the pledges such as the social reform , for example, health care and withdrawal of the troops from Iraq, wasn’t he?

“ Most of the progressive fronts have disappointed by all the issues he suggested. They think he betrayed them. Thus Obama is losing his supporters. The poll has become low. It is becoming more clear when you see the expansion of war in the Afghanistan. Obama will not be able to bring up the change(which was his election slogan) any more. To speak easily, if Bush is a ‘bad cowboy’, Obama is a ‘good cowboy’. The important point is that Obama is still supporting the military imperialism.”

If one looks at Gagnon’s blog or writings in the media, he often mentions the Korean examples. Last May, he submitted an open letter pointing out the injustice of the arrest of the PKAR members. Looking at his Korean trip schedule, even though there are public speeches or symposium in the PSPD & Peace Network, his participation in the various realities in Korea, such as the visit to the Pan-Korea committee on Yongan , participation in the press interview sponsored by the peace unification organization and visit to the Korean Confederation of the Trade Unions., is remarkable. It was curious how he has become concerned with the Korean issues. Is there any Korean among his relatives of his father and mother sides?

“ I was born in July 27, 1952. It is only a year before the signing of the Korea War Armistice Agreement. My father was in the air force during the Korean war. His hobbies were to take the photographs of the daily lives of the Korean people. I grew up looking at the photos. ” Once the supporter of the Republican as to act in the election movement for Nixon in his youth, his idea has become changed since his participation in the Vietnam war. (Currently he is the member of the Veteran’s for Peace, as well) Working at the [Florida] Coalition for Peace and Justice after working at the Farmers’ union at the Florida state, he initiated the ‘Global Network’. When asked whether there is any message to the Lee Myung Bak government, he shortly replied, “OUT”.

* Related blogs

http://space4peace.blogspot.com/2009/08/bits-and-things.html
Thursday, August 27, 2009
BITS OF THINGS

http://space4peace.blogspot.com/2009/08/south-korean-satellite-launch-fails.html
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
SOUTH KOREAN SATELLITE LAUNCH FAILS

Text fwd: S. Korea's first space rocket launch may be postponed

Yonhap News
S. Korea's first space rocket launch may be postponed
By Lee Joon-seung

SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Tuesday it may have to again postpone the launch of its first space rocket because further examination of a critical combustion test conducted last week is needed.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said that while Russia successfully completed the "hot fire test" last Thursday, some "technical issues" still have to be clarified, requiring more time.

"A notification on the need to conduct more checks arrived from Russia," said Yoo Guk-hee, head of the ministry's space development division.

South Korea has never launched a space rocket, and has been working with Russia on the development of the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1).

Yoo would not say whether the scheduled launch date of Aug. 11 will have to be changed to deal with the new developments, although a delay may be inevitable as the ongoing assembly of the rocket at the Naro Space Center will likely be affected.

"Once more details on the technical issues involved are known, a more definitive plan for the rocket will be made public," the official said.

Others in the ministry said that because Seoul set the "launch window" from Aug. 11 through Aug. 18 to deal with unforeseen developments in weather, experts will determine if the rocket can be launched within that time period.

The launch of the KSLV-1 has been delayed several times in the past, mainly due to technical reasons associated with the construction and certification of the new rocket, along with delays in the building of the launch pad and systems checks.

Originally, when the project was started in August 2002, work on the rocket design was set to be completed by late 2005 with the launch scheduled for October 2007. This was pushed back to December 2008 and then to the second quarter of this year before being set at July 30. It has since been rescheduled for next Tuesday.

The rocket, developed at a cost of 502.5 billion won (US$412.5 million), stands 33 meters tall, has a diameter of just under 3 meters and weighs 140 tons. The first stage main booster rocket has a thrust of 170 tons, while the smaller, second-stage can generate 8 tons of thrust. The rocket is designed to put a 100kg satellite into orbit.

yonngong@yna.co.kr

Text fwd: S. Korea to launch the nation's first rocket on Aug. 11

Yonhap News
2009/08/01 16:33 KST
S. Korea to launch the nation's first rocket on Aug. 11

SEOUL, Aug. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Saturday it will launch its first space rocket from its soil on Aug. 11 to put a communications satellite into orbit after a delay last month due to technical problems.

South Korea had originally planned to lift off the KSLV-1 rocket on July 30 but it was suspended as Russia asked for more time to upgrade the test control and evaluation programs needed for the critical test.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said the new launch date was set after consultations with Russian scientists who are cooperating with South Korea on the launch.

"South Korea and Russia will jointly conduct a final review before moving the rocket to the launch pad two days before the date," a ministry official said. "There will be a dry run one day before the final countdown starts."

The ministry said it will aim to meet the launch date but said unexpected technical problems or weather conditions could cause a change in plans. It set a window of Aug. 11-18, and plans to notify both the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization.

South Korea has never launched a rocket before from its soil. The country is working with Russia to acquire technology and expertise that could allow it to send locally made space vehicles into orbit in the future.

The rocket will be fired from the Naro Space Center, located 485km south of Seoul, which was built to launch the KSLV-1 and future rockets.


http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2009/08/133_49443.html

08-01-2009 21:41
Home-Made Satellite to Be Launched on Aug. 11

After a delay last month due to technical problems, South Korea will launch its first satellite from its territory on Aug. 11, Yonhap News reported Saturday.

South Korea had originally planned to lift off the KSLV-1, a communications satellite, on July 30 but it was suspended as Russia asked for more time to upgrade the test control and evaluation programs needed for the critical test.

The new launch date was set after consultations with Russian scientists who are cooperating with South Korea on the launch, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said.

The ministry set a window of Aug. 11-18 for the launch, in case unexpected conditions require a change in plans.

South Korea has never launched a rocket before from its soil. The country is working with Russia to acquire technology and expertise that could allow it to send home-made satellites into orbit in the future.

* Related article

Korea Times
08-01-2009 21:41
Home-Made Satellite to Be Launched on Aug. 11

After a delay last month due to technical problems, South Korea will launch its first satellite from its territory on Aug. 11, Yonhap News reported Saturday.

South Korea had originally planned to lift off the KSLV-1, a communications satellite, on July 30 but it was suspended as Russia asked for more time to upgrade the test control and evaluation programs needed for the critical test.

The new launch date was set after consultations with Russian scientists who are cooperating with South Korea on the launch, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said.

The ministry set a window of Aug. 11-18 for the launch, in case unexpected conditions require a change in plans.

South Korea has never launched a rocket before from its soil. The country is working with Russia to acquire technology and expertise that could allow it to send home-made satellites into orbit in the future.

Text Fwd: Fire test for S. Korea's first space rocket to be conducted next week

Yonhap News
Tech/Science 2009/07/24 19:27 KST Fire test for S. Korea's first space rocket to be conducted next week By Lee Joon-seung

SEOUL, July 24 (Yonhap) -- The critical fire test for South Korea's first space rocket will be conducted next week after delays caused by technical problems, the government said Friday.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said Russia's Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center sent an official letter notifying local authorities that the test date for the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) has been set for July 30. If the test can be conducted as planned, the rocket could be launched in August if weather conditions are favorable.

"A letter was sent to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute that it will conduct the hot fire test," an official said. Khrunichev is in charge of building the main booster rocket.

South Korea, with no experience in launching rockets, is working with Russia to acquire rocket technology and expertise that could allow it to send locally made space vehicles into orbit in the future.

Originally, Khrunichev planned to conduct the test on Monday, but called for a delay to upgrade the test control and evaluation programs needed for the experiment. This move affected the launch date, which had been set for next Thursday.

The rocket fire test is important because engineers will fill the rocket with fuel and oxidation compounds and ignite it to simulate an actual launch.

There are currently two KSLV-1 rockets. The one planned for launch was delivered to South Korea last month, while the other is used by Russian technicians to conduct various tests related to turbo pumps, the jet motor and fuel pipes. Russia said it has successfully conducted a so-called cold flow test on the first stage of the KSLV-1.

The ministry stressed that if all tests are conducted and there are no problems, South Korea's first space rocket can theoretically be launched 13-14 days after the "hot fire test" is conducted.

The rocket, developed at a cost of 502.5 billion won (US$403.7 million), stands 33m tall, has a diameter of just under 3m and weighs 140t. The first stage main booster rocket, made in Russia, has a thrust of 170t, while the smaller, second-stage indigenous rocket can generate 8t of thrust. The rocket is designed to deliver the 100kg satellite into orbit.

The government built the Naro Space Center, located 485km south of Seoul, to launch the KSLV-1 and future rockets.

yonngong@yna.co.kr

Text Fwd: [Editorial] Naro Center Will Be Home to Korea's Dreams of Space Exploration

* Image source/ description: Chosun Ilbo, June 13, 2009

‘Boys run in front of Korea's first space rocket during the completion ceremony of the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province on Thursday. /Yonhap’

Note: The media here yesterday celebrated that the South Korea has become “only the 13th country in the world to possess its own space center” and that the “KSLV-I, the country's first space launch vehicle, will lift off from the Naro Space Center in July”. The most conservative right wing newspaper in Korea , Chosun Ilbo says “There are also plans to launch a lunar exploration satellite in 2020 and a lunar landing vehicle in 2025” .

[Editorial] Naro Center Will Be Home to Korea's Dreams of Space Exploration
June 13, 2009, The Chosun Ilbo

The Naro Space Center, embodying Korea's aspirations to explore space, was completed Thursday in Goheung, South Jeolla Province. Construction began eight and a half years ago in December of 2000, and its completion means Korea has become only the 13th country in the world to possess its own space center. KSLV-I, the country's first space launch vehicle, will lift off from the Naro Space Center in July, carrying the Science and Technology Satellite-2. If the satellite successfully enters orbit, Korea will become the 10th country in the world to achieve such a feat on its own, and mark Korea's first step towards becoming an advanced country in terms of space exploration.

Hyundai Heavy Industries and other domestic companies built the space center, based on a Russian blueprint, experiencing many problems on the way. Russia sent Korea the blueprint for the launch pad -- 21,631 A3 pages worth of information -- in March, 2007, four months later than promised. A further eight months were then spent changing the blueprint so that it met Korean specifications.

Russian experts said it would take at least 23 months to build a launch pad, even if their own technicians did it. However, Korea built it in just 19 months, while also developing 80 percent of the related technology on its own. The Russians were so impressed with Korea's skill in building the launch pad that KBTM, a Russian design company, has asked Korea to join a consortium building a new launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazhakstan. Naro is the crowning result of the sweat and passion of our researchers and technicians who worked away from their families and without holidays.

Space is the final frontier for the human race. The world's major powers, including the United States, Russia, Europe, China, Japan and India have set out to explore and tap into outer space not only for national pride but also for economic benefits and national security. The space industry encompasses a wide array of high technologies, ranging from electronics, machinery and chemistry to materials, and therefore has far reaching impacts for a country. In the course of building the Naro Space Center, Korean companies were able to acquire valuable know-how in ultraclean, high pressure and cryogenic technologies. The first space rocket KSLV-1 named Naro cost W502.5 billion (US$1=W1,253) to build, but its economic benefits are estimated to be worth W3 trillion.

The task facing Korea is to become able to build a space launch vehicle using 100 percent of its own technologies. With the KSLV-1, Russian scientists built the core propulsion system. But Korea now plans to build another launch rocket by 2018 using its own technologies. There are also plans to launch a lunar exploration satellite in 2020 and a lunar landing vehicle in 2025. The Naro Space Center is the very starting point from which all Korea's dreams of space exploration are being realized.

Copyright (c)2009 DIGITAL CHOSUN All rights reserved.

* Related site http://www.kari.re.kr/english/

* Relate articles

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/05/11/2009051100300.html
Korea's 1st Space Rocket Named 'Naro'
:the 13th country in the world to have its own space launcher and .
May 11, 2009

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2008/10/20/2008102061008.html
Korean Space Launch Vehicle Unveiled
Oct. 20, 2008 09:59 KST