A South Korean space rocket carrying a scientific satellite exploded two minutes into its flight in the second failure in two tries to put a payload in orbit, dealing a major setback to the country’s space programme.
The launch had been delayed for a day due to technical glitches. Hopes were running high for its success after the country’s first attempt to put a satellite into orbit failed in 2009 due to problems in stage-separation mechanism. At 137 seconds into the flight, mission control lost contact with the rocket as it would have reached the altitude of 70 km, science minister Ahn Byong-man said.
“Looking from the bright flash seen on the camera mounted on the tip of the rocket, it appears the Naro exploded in flight during the first-stage ignition,” Mr Ahn told a briefing. The failure is a major setback to the country’s space programme as it tries to build a domestic project that can eventually challenge the far more advanced programmes of regional rivals China, Japan and India.
It had enlisted the help of Russia to develop the Naro-1. The rocket lifted off successfully on its maiden launch in August 2009 but failed to put a scientific satellite into orbit because of problems in stage-separation systems. South Korea’s launch in 2009 riled neighbour North Korea.
Pyongyang said it was unjust for it to be hit with UN sanctions for firing off a long-range rocket in April 2009, but regional powers saw the launch as a disguised test of a ballistic missile that violated UN measures. —Reuters