Korea finally achieves space dream
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JANUARY 31, 2013 08:06.
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Korea on Wednesday successfully launched its first space rocket, realizing a long-held dream of entering the ranks of world space powers and deploying a satellite into orbit for the first time in the nation’s history. This came after two failed launches and 10 delays since 2005.
The Naro blasted off its launch pad at the Naro Space Center in Goheung County, South Jeolla Province, at 4 p.m. Moments later, Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 safely passed the 137th second section in which the previous rocket had abruptly exploded after lift-off in the second launch in 2010, giving many staff at the space center a sigh of relief.
When the announcement was made that fairings (the cover of the satellite body), which had caused the first launch to fail in August 2009, was separated normally, expectations for success ran high at the space center. About nine minutes later when the satellite was confirmed to have reached an altitude of 302 kilometers, applause broke out at mission control.
In a briefing at the Naro Space Center at 5 p.m., Education, Science and Technology Minister Lee Ju-ho said, “Based on an analysis of related data, I officially declare that the satellite has successfully entered the targeted orbit. Korea has taken a giant step forward to become a space technology powerhouse.”
President Lee Myung-bak said in a congratulatory message, “I am very pleased to join the Korean people in congratulating the beginning of a new space era. We have taken the first step to opening up a space science era in earnest,” adding, “Let’s use this as an opportunity to elevate the power of the Republic of Korea.”
With the Naro science satellite now in orbit, if it sends beacon signals to the satellite research center at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology around 3:37 a.m. Thursday Korean Standard Time, the launch will be confirmed as an “immaculate success.” In this case, Korea will become the 11th country to have successfully launched its own satellite into orbit from its own territory.
