S. Korea's homegrown space rocket set for October launch as planned: space agency chief
SEOUL, May 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's first fully homegrown space rocket is on track for its scheduled launch later this year, the chief of the country's space research institute said Thursday.
Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) President Lee Sang-ryool said the 200-ton three-stage rocket, named Nuri, is currently being assembled without a glitch in the process.
South Korea has been seeking to develop a homegrown space launch vehicle since 2010, earmarking nearly 2 trillion won (US$1.79 billion). While the country launched its two-stage Naro rocket in 2013, its first stage was built in Russia.
In March, KARI ran the final test for Nuri's main first-stage engines at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, 473 kilometers south of Seoul.
"Once the assembly of the flight model's first, second and third stages are completed, we will assemble the entire model and transport it to the launch pad," Lee said in an online press conference. "The launch pad is also nearly complete and (the project) is currently going ahead smoothly."
The Nuri will carry a mock payload for its launch in October ahead of its mission to fly with a 200-kilogram satellite in May next year.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
'Queen of Tears' weaves rich tapestry of Korean contemporary art
-
Ateez member Yunho throws first pitch at MLB match between Dodgers, Mets
-
N. Korea says Kim guided simulated nuclear counterattack drills for 1st time
-
N. Korea calls envisioned U.S. aid to Ukraine 'hallucinogen'
-
N. Korea calls on party propaganda officials to work harder
-
'Queen of Tears' weaves rich tapestry of Korean contemporary art
-
Experts see possibility of N.K. conducting nuclear test before U.S. presidential vote
-
Details of meeting between Yoon, opposition leader undecided: presidential office
-
N. Korea says Kim guided simulated nuclear counterattack drills for 1st time
-
Looming weekly closure of major hospitals feared to worsen medical service crisis
-
S. Korea eliminated in Olympic football qualifiers as poor defense, undisciplined play prove costly
-
10-man S. Korea lose to Indonesia to miss out on Paris Olympic football qualification
-
(LEAD) 10-man S. Korea lose to Indonesia to miss out on Paris Olympic football qualification
-
Indonesia coach left with mixed feelings after eliminating native S. Korea in Olympic football qualifiers
-
(3rd LD) Hybe to file complaint against sublabel executives over internal conflict