Korea to unveil new satellite for Naro space rocket

A picture of the Science & Technology Satellite-2C that will be launched into orbit in October (Photo courtesy of KAIST).

The Science and Technology Satellite-2C (STSAT-2C) will be revealed to the public Friday in a pre-shipment ceremony to be held at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon, 160 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. 

The satellite, indigenously developed by KAIST, is the third of its kind as its two predecessors — STSAT-2A and STSAT-2B — were lost in failed attempts to launch the country’s first space vehicles in August 2009 and June 2010.

 A new and improved Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1, also known as Naro-1, is scheduled to be launched in October, with the specific launch date to be set later. The country’s first space rocket was developed jointly with Russia.

For full article see Yonhap News.

KARI upbeat about rocket project

The chief of Korea’s aerospace agency expressed optimism ahead of the launch of the nation’s first space vehicle slated for October. “Everything is under control and I’m sure we’ll have a successful launch in October,” Kim Seung-jo, president of Korea Aerospace Research Institute, said in an interview with The Korea Herald.

Korea failed in its previous two attempts to launch its own rocket in 2009 and 2010. KARI has learned crucial lessons from the experiences. The KSLV-1, known as Naro-1, is a two-stage rocket built in cooperation with Russia. Russia’s Khrunichev Space Research designed and manufactured the lower part and KARI developed the upper part.

For full article see Korea Herald.