South Korea’s first liquid-fuel rocket is scheduled to be launched on Nov. 27, the Ministry of Science and Technology said Thursday.
The rocket, named KSR (Korea Sounding Rocket)-III, will lift off from Anhung on the west coast as planned unless there are environmental or weather problems, the ministry said.
Developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), the three-stage rocket will be a significant step toward developing a small satellite launch vehicle, the ministry said.
It is also environmentally friendly due to the liquid fuel engine, the ministry added.
KARI’s previous KSR-I and -II rockets, which were launched in 1993 and 1997, both used solid fuel engines.
The KSR-III system, a project which began in December 1997 with total investment of 78 billion won ($64.2 million) is 14 meters long, weighs six tons and has a thrust of 12.5 tons.
The rocket will reach up to 42km from the ground with a maximum speed of 902 meters per second and fly 85km in 230 seconds before it falls into the West Sea.
Ahead of the launch, the KARI and related agencies successfully carried out ignition tests in May and August.
They also completed a ground facilities test last month, and are now conducting final checks.
The ministry is also planning to develop a 100kg small satellite launch vehicle by 2005 and a lower-orbit commercial satellite with the aim of becoming one of the world’s top 10 aerospace powers by 2010.
