Original title: South Korea’s self-developed launch vehicle failed its first flight and will launch for the second time next year
Reference News Network reported on October 23 According to a report on the website of South Korea’s “Joongang Daily” on October 22, this is the day when South Korea achieved aerospace independence. It is not perfect, but it can be considered a success. South Korea’s domestically-produced launch vehicle (KSLV-2) “World“, developed with purely independent technology, failed to successfully transport the fake satellite payload to orbit in the final stage. At 5 pm on October 21st, at the Lo Lao Space Center at the very end of the Gwanghung Peninsula in Jeonnam, a carrier rocket representing South Korea’s technological pride was launched into space. The “World” was originally planned to launch at 4 pm, but it took a long time to check the system and valves under the launch pad, so the launch time was postponed to 5 pm. The “World” reached an altitude of 59 kilometers after launching 127 seconds, and the first-stage rocket successfully separated. Subsequently, the second stage rocket was successfully separated, but the third stage rocket failed to send the satellite into orbit due to insufficient thrust.
The South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who watched the launch process at the Luo Lao Space Center, said, “Although it is regrettable that the goal was not perfectly achieved, but the first launch has achieved such results, it is already very good.” “To check and improve the lack of today , The second launch in May next year will be a perfect success.”
According to the report, although the final stage unfortunately failed, the launch of the “World” on the 21st still means that South Korea has become one of the top ten countries in the world with space launch vehicle technology. Although the South Korean domestic carrier rocket “Luo Lao” (LSLV-1), which was launched for the first time in 2013, successfully ascended into space, it can only be counted as half of the success. Although the government proudly declared that “South Korea has successfully used a domestically-made launch vehicle to transport a domestic artificial satellite to orbit at its launch site”, but in fact, the first-stage rocket of the “Luo Lao” is a finished product imported from Russia, and the second-stage rocket is also Solid fuel is used instead of liquid fuel rockets.
Launch vehicle technology is a typical national defense technology, and all countries strictly prohibit the transfer of related technology to foreign countries. Launch vehicle technology and missiles that are strategic weapons, especially the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technology are quite similar. Therefore, universities and research institutes in countries that have mastered launch vehicle technology such as the United States and Russia strictly prohibit foreign personnel from contacting rocket research and development technology. .
According to reports, the only countries in the world that can launch launch vehicles independently are the United States, Russia, China, France, India, Japan, Israel, Iran, and North Korea. Among them, only six countries can successfully launch practical satellites of more than 1 ton.
The “World” has a total length of 47.2 meters and a height approximately equal to a 15-story residential building with a total weight of 200 tons. The first-stage rocket uses kerosene fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer to bundle four 75-ton liquid rocket engines. The second-stage rocket uses a 75-ton-class engine, and the third-stage rocket uses a 7-ton-class liquid engine, which can load 1.5 tons. The utility satellite was sent into low earth orbit (600 to 800 kilometers).
The report pointed out that the “World” plans to conduct a second launch in May next year, and four additional launches before 2027 to check the rocket’s performance. The research and development activities of the “World” will last from March 2010 to October next year.
The report also said that while launching the “World“, the Korean Aerospace Research Institute is also preparing to carry out research and development activities to improve the technical level of domestic carrier rockets. The goal is to develop heavier payloads into space orbit and even capable of lunar exploration. Horizontal space rocket.
On October 21, the South Korean carrier rocket “World” was launched at the Rao Space Center in Gwangju, Jeollanam-do, South Korea. Published by Xinhua News Agency (Photo courtesy of Korea Aerospace Research Institute)
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