Article Posted on : - Apr 20, 2010

A file photo of Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1(Naro-1).

SEOUL (Itar-Tass): South Korea has scheduled the second attempt at launching the national rocket with a research satellite for June 9, the country's Ministry of Education, Science and Technology reported Monday.

The start of the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (Naro-1) designed jointly by Russian and South Korean specialists will be carried out from the Naro space centre located 485 km south of Seoul.

The final consultations with Russian specialists who are assisting the Korean side in the implementation of their space programme will be held in early June.

A solid-fuel engine of the first stage of the Naro-1 rocket in early April was delivered from Russia to the space centre on the Naro Island in the Goheung County, Jeollanam-do Province.

South Korea plans to send its second locally assembled rocket into space on June 9, the government said. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) will be launched between 16:30-18:40 although local weather conditions at the Naro Space Centre, located 485 kilometres south of Seoul, can cause adjustment in the date and time.

"The date for the launch has been set after comprehensive review of ongoing launch preparations, technical evaluations and to avoid possible collisions with satellites and other objects currently circling the Earth," said Deputy Science and Technology Minister Kim Young-sik.

He added that if adverse weather conditions or unexpected technical problems arise that may make it hard to meet the pre-set date, the country plans to reserve a "launch window" up till June 19 to get the rocket into space.

The Russian-made first stage booster rocket arrived earlier in the month and will be assembled with the locally built second-stage rocket and scientific satellite by the end of May, the agency reported.

At present each part of the first and second stage rockets and the satellite is being checked and tested individually by engineers to make certain there are no glitches.

The official said a final consultation with Russian engineers will be held in early June to check overall readiness with the KSLV-1, also called Naro-1, to be moved from the rocket assembly building to the launch pad two days before the planned launch.

"The final "go-ahead' for the launch will be given on site by experts on the day of the launch after checking all considerations," Kim said.

He added that while Seoul can arrange for a third rocket launch with Russia -- its partner in the space rocket program - if problems occur again, all efforts are currently focused on getting the satellite into proper orbit this time.

The first attempt to get a satellite into orbit ran into problems when the fairing assembly that covers the satellite failed to come off properly. The malfunction caused the rocket to veer off course and made it impossible to place the satellite into orbit.