That launch came after years of delays and consecutive failures. South Korea had previously launched a space launch vehicle from the Naro spaceport in 2013, which was a two-stage rocket built mainly with Russian technology. Scientists and engineers at KARI plan to test Nuri several more times, including conducting another launch with a dummy device in May 2022, before trying with a real satellite. вЂњThe launch left some frustration, but it's meaningful that we confirmed we have obtained core technologyвЂќ for space launches, said Lim, the minister. It is designed to deliver a 1.5-ton payload into orbit 600 to 800 kilometers (372 to 497 miles) above Earth. The three-stage rocket is powered by five 75-ton class rocket engines placed in its first and second stages. Nuri is the countryвЂ™s first space launch vehicle built entirely with domestic technology. The country is also hoping to send a probe to the moon by 2030.

Officials say such an ability would be crucial for the countryвЂ™s space ambitions, which include plans for sending more advanced communications satellites and acquiring its own military intelligence satellites. All this was done based on technology that is completely ours,вЂќ he added.ДЄfter relying on other countries to launch its satellites since the early 1990s, South Korea is now trying to become the 10th nation to send a satellite into space with its own technology. вЂњThe separations of the rockets, fairings (covering the payload) and the dummy satellite worked smoothly.

вЂњAlthough (the launch) failed to achieve its objectives perfectly, it was an excellent accomplishment for a first launch,вЂќ Moon said in a televised speech. There had also been concerns that strong winds and other conditions would pose challenges for a successful launch. (0800 GMT), had been delayed by an hour because engineers needed more time to examine the rocketвЂ™s valves. The institute was planning to form an inspection committee soon to analyze what went wrong and map out adjustments before the rocketвЂ™s next test launch. Officials from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, the countryвЂ™s space agency, said debris from the payload would have landed somewhere in waters south of Australia.

Korea daily