Naro-1
 A Naro-1 rocket | |
| Function | Expendable launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | KARI and Khrunichev |
| Country of origin |  Republic of Korea Russia |
| Size | |
| Height | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.9 m (12.7 ft) |
| Mass | 140,000 kg (300,000 lb) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | 100 kg (to 300 km orbit with 38o inclination) (220 lb) |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Operational |
| Launch sites | Naro Space Center |
| Total launches | 1 |
| Partial failure(s) | 1[1] |
| First flight | August 25, 2009 at 8:00 UTC |
| First stage | |
| Engines | 1 Angara UM RD-191 |
| Thrust | 2,094.7 kN |
| Specific impulse | 338 sec |
| Burn time | 300 seconds |
| Propellant | LOX/Kerosene |
| Second stage | |
| Engines | 1 KSR-1 |
| Thrust | 86.2 kN |
| Specific impulse | 250 sec |
| Burn time | 25 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
The Naro-1,[2] previously designated Korea Space Launch Vehicle or KSLV, is South Korea's first carrier rocket, launched on 25 August 2009. It is the first Korean rocket to be launched on South Korean soil. It is built by KARI, the national space agency of South Korea along with Korean Air and was launched into space from the country's new spaceport, the Naro Space Center. The official name of the first KSLV rocket, KSLV-I is Naro, which is named after the name of the region in which Naro Space Center is located.[3]
Though the launch itself was successful, its payload exceeded its planned orbit. If the launch had been entirely successful, it would have made South Korea the world's tenth country to launch a home-made satellite and the fourth country in the world to do so on the first attempt.[4][5][6][7]
The KSLV-I launch vehicle is based on the first stage of the Russian Angara rocket combined with a solid-fueled second stage built by South Korea. This configuration is reportedly capable of launching a satellite weighing 100 kilograms (220 lb) into low orbit.
History
In 1992, South Korea developed and launched several satellite systems and rockets overseas, such as the solid-fueled KSR-1 and KSR-2 sounding rockets. In 2000, South Korea began construction of the Naro Space Centre, located on Naro Island in Goheung, 485 kilometres (301 mi) south of Seoul with Russian assistance. The work was completed by the launch of the 6,000 kilograms (13,000 lb) KSR-3 liquid-propellant sounding rocket on 28 November 2002. South Korea announced in 2002 that it intended to develop a small satellite launch vehicle by 2005 that would be based on technology flown on the KSR-3 test vehicle. The launcher would be entirely indigenous, based on the 122,500 kilonewtons (27,500,000 lbf) thrust LOX / Kerosene motor used in the KSR-3.[8] In 2005 a change was announced, indicating that they would use the Russian RD-191 as the vehicle's first stage. The program, like that of the Angara, was subject to continuous funding shortages and schedule delays.[9]
On 26 October 2004, during the visit of a Khrunichev State Company delegation headed by A.A. Medvedev, Director General to South Korea, a contract was signed to design and build a Space Rocket Complex for the small-lift launch vehicle KSLV-1. The design represented a joint effort between Khrunichev State Enterprise, who would build the first stage of KSLV-1, and South Korea, who would deign and produce the second stage. As the prerequisite to signing the contract South Korea joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). All documentation was reviewed by the Russian Space Agency (RSA), and the joint project to build the Korean rocket complex was approved.[10] The vehicle was unveiled at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province in October, 2008. South Korea has spent some KR₩500 billion (US$488.7 million) since 2002 on the project.[11]
Vehicle description
The vehicle is two staged with a payload capability of 100 to 300 kilometres (62 to 186 mi) orbit at a 38o inclination. The whole rocket was initially planned to be completely indigenous but, due to financial and technological constraints, KARI decided that the KSLV would be built on the basis of the universal rocket module (URM) designed for the Russian Angara family of rockets.[9] The first stage of the vehicle uses the Russian RD-151 engine, which is essentially the RD-191 de-powered to 170 tonnes-force (1,700 kN; 170 LTf; 190 STf).[12] The second stage contains solid propellant and has been designed and built by KARI. The launch vehicle weighs 140 tonnes (140 long tons; 150 short tons), stands 33 metres (108 ft) tall and has a diameter of almost 3 metres (9.8 ft).[13]
Launch history
The South Korean government in June 2009 officially approved the launch of the KSLV, which was expected to make the country one of the few in the world to have sent a satellite into orbit independently. The launch, tentatively scheduled for August 11, received approval from the National Space Committee after experts reviewed all aspects of the flight plan established by the state-run Korea Aerospace Research Institute. South Korea notified the International Maritime Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization of the launch to give notice to ships and planes operating in the region on the launch date to prevent accidental collisions.[14] The first attempt to a Naro-1 rocket was conducted on 19 August 2009, however the launch was scrubbed seven minutes and 56 seconds before launch. The second attempt on 25 August 2009, however, succeeded in taking off from the Naro Space Center. The Khrunichev-built first stage reportedly performed nominally,[15] but the satellite reached a higher orbit than planned. "All aspects of the launch were normal, but the satellite exceeded its planned orbit," Korea's Science and Education Minster Ahn Byong-man said.[16]. Currently, it is presumed that the payload (STSAT-2) has reentered the atmosphere and disintegrated. Further investigation is proceeding. One piece of debris presumed to be a part of the rocket has fallen near Darwin, Australia.
| Flight # | Variant | Date of Launch | Launch Location | Payload | Outcome | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naro-1 | 2009-08-25 08:00 UTC (17:00 KST)[17] | Naro Space Centre | STSAT-2A
|
Failure | Fairing failed[18] |
| 2 | Naro-2 | April 2010[19] | Naro Space Centre | STSAT-2B
|
Planned |
Comparable rockets
See also
References
- ^ "S. Korea's first space rocket launch fails to send satellite into orbit". Yonhap News. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
- ^ Korea Times – S. Korea Completes Work on Naro Space Center
- ^ Selecting the name of Korean first space launch vehicle as 'Naro'(한국 첫 우주발사체 이름 '나로' 선정) Electronic Times Internet, 2009.5.10.(전자신문 2009년 5월 10일)
- ^ http://news.msn.co.kr/article/read.html?cate_code=1600&article_id=200908251720071004&pos=news_home2
- ^ http://media.daum.net/foreign/englishnews/view.html?cateid=1047&newsid=20090612033010010&p=koreaherald
- ^ See Timeline of first orbital launches by country.
- ^ http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/06/133_47425.html
- ^ http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Space-Systems-and-Industry/KSLV-Korean-Space-Launch-Vehicle-Korea-South.html
- ^ a b http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/kslv.htm
- ^ http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=73
- ^ http://www.fareastgizmos.com/transport/korean_space_launch_vehicle_unveiled.php
- ^ Joon-seung, Lee (25 August 2009). "S. Korea to launch first space rocket on Aug. 19". Retrieved 26 August 2009.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help); Unknown parameter|publier=ignored (|publisher=suggested) (help) - ^ "South Korea's first space launch to take place 30 July news". 03 June 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help); Unknown parameter|publier=ignored (|publisher=suggested) (help) - ^ http://www.telecomskorea.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7382&Itemid=2
- ^ "Historic South Korean satellite launch fails". Spaceflight Now. 2009-08-25. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
- ^ "S Korean launch 'partial success'". BBC News. 2009-08-25. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
- ^ http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2009/08/01/99/0503000000AEN20090801002300320F.HTML
- ^ http://news.sbs.co.kr/section_news/news_read.jsp?news_id=N1000635192
- ^ http://www.donga.com/fbin/output?n=200906110330&top20=1