Korea’s Science Satellite To Be Put Into Orbit Next Month

Naro Space Center puts final touches on the second flight attempt

Korea is set to make its second bid to put the Naro-ho, Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1), carrying a locally-made science satellite, into orbit on June 9 from its space center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) said on May 17 engineers at the Naro Space Center completed the assembly of the upper part of the Naro-ho. They completed the first-stage booster rocket’s assembly electrically and mechanically on May 19 and they are now carrying out various tests.
Earlier on May 14, the engineers also finished assembling Korea’s second science satellite, STSAT-2, the solid kick motor and fairing and other major components of the upper part of the KSLV-1, testing connection points with diverse payload sensors and the first-stage booster rocket. They also performed tests including leak testing, checkup of the liquid-fueled engine and an electrical test of payload equipment on May 15.
The upper part of the KSLV-1, which was transported to the Assembly Complex from the Satellite Test Complex, completed mechanical assembly ranging from the upper part of the KSLV-1 and the lower first-stage rocket, testing signal conditions, separation apparatuses and connection joints between the upper part and the lower rocket.
Meanwhile, all launching facilities, including the Naro Space Center launch pad, tracking, measuring and mission control had already undergone checkups. The engineers will perform tests connecting the launch pad and the lower first stage booster rocket by the end of May to create optimum conditions for its blast-off in early June.
Following all preparatory processes, the Naro-ho is to be placed vertically by the erector on the launch pad two days before lift-off and the countdown will be made according to the launch scenario after a rehearsal one day prior to launch and after the completion of fueling.
The planned launch follows the blast-off of the first KSLV-1 last August that failed to put a science satellite into orbit when the fairing assembly that covered it did not unfurl properly.
Russia’s Khrunichev State Space Science and Production Center is providing the technology for the project and is designing the 25.8-meter-long lower assembly that contains the liquid-fueled propulsion system of the two-stage rocket.
The upper part of the rocket, which holds the satellite designed by KAIST and the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), was designed by Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). nw

(File photo from right) The Naro-ho, Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1), carrying a science satellite, blasts off at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do, last August. Korea is set to make its second attempt to launch the KSLV-1 early next month. (above) A proto-flight model (PFM) of Korea’s science satellite, STSAT-2.