Naro-1

Naro-1

Real size replica of Naro (left)
Function	launch vehicle
Manufacturer	Khrunichev (first stage) KARI (second stage)
Size
Height	33 m (108 ft)
Diameter	3 m (9.9 ft)
Mass	140,000 kg (300,000 lb)
Stages	2
Launch history
Status	Operational
Launch sites	Naro Space Center
Total launches	2
Successes	0
Failures	2[1][2]
Maiden flight	25 August 2009
First stage
Engines	1 RD-151
Thrust	1670 kN
Specific impulse	338 sec
Burn time	300 seconds
Fuel	LOX/Kerosene
Second stage
Engines	1 KSR-1
Thrust	86.2 kN
Specific impulse	250 sec
Burn time	25 seconds
Fuel	Solid

The Naro-1,^[3] previously designated Korea Space Launch Vehicle or KSLV, is South Korea's first carrier rocket, which made its maiden flight on 25 August 2009. It is built by KARI, the national space agency of South Korea, and Korean Air, with the first stage provided by Khrunichev (Russia). It was twice launched from the country's new spaceport, the Naro Space Center, but both launches ended in failure. The official name^[4] of the first KSLV rocket, KSLV-I, is Naro, which is the name of the region in which Naro Space Center is located.^[5]

The KSLV-I launch vehicle is based on the Universal Rocket Module, the first stage of the Russian Angara rocket, combined with a solid-fueled second stage built by South Korea.

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 Center, 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-kilogram (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-kilonewton (27,539 lb_f) thrust LOX/kerosene motor used for the KSR-3 rocket stage.^[6][7] 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.^[8]

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 design 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.^[9] 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$490 million) since 2002 on the project.^[10]

Vehicle description

The whole rocket was originally planned to be completely indigenous, but due to technological constraints largely spurred by political pressure from the United States that discouraged independent research and development of rocket technology by South Korea,^[11] 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.^[8] The first stage of the vehicle uses the Russian RD-151 engine, which is essentially the RD-191 de-powered to 170 tonnes-force (1.7 MN; 370,000 lbf)^[12][13] from 190 tonnes. The second stage is based on the KSR-1 solid-propellant sounding rocket developed and built by KARI.^[14] The launch vehicle weighs 140 tonnes (310,000 lb), stands 33 metres (108 ft) tall and has a diameter of almost 3 metres (9 ft 10 in).^[15]

Launch history

Flight #	Variant	Date of Launch	Launch Location	Payload	Outcome	Remarks
1	Naro-1	2009-08-25 08:00 UTC (17:00 KST)[16]	Naro Space Center	STSAT-2A	Failure[17]	Fairing did not separate, failed to reach orbit[1]
2	Naro-1	2010-06-10, 08:01 UTC (17:01 KST)[18]	Naro Space Center[19]	STSAT-2B	Failure	Signal lost 137 seconds after launch,[2] the rocket may have exploded[20]

First flight

The South Korean government officially approved the launch of the KSLV in June 2009, which was expected to send the STSAT-2A satellite into orbit.^[21] The launch, tentatively scheduled for 11 August, 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.^[22] South Korea notified the International Maritime Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization of the launch in order to give notice to ships and planes operating in the region on the launch date of the potential hazard.^{[23][not in citation given]}

The first attempt to launch Naro-1 was conducted on 19 August 2009, but the launch was canceled seven minutes 56 seconds before launch. The second attempt on 25 August 2009 succeeded in taking off from the Naro Space Center. The Khrunichev-built first stage reportedly performed nominally,^[17] and the second stage separation took place as expected,^[24] but the payload fairing separation system malfunctioned and half of the satellite protective cover stayed bolted to the second stage. The added weight of the remaining fairing caused the rocket to tumble upwards^[25] and to be thrown off its nominal course, soaring 20 kilometres (12 mi) above the planned altitude before falling down.^[1] The payload (STSAT-2) has reentered the atmosphere and disintegrated.^[25]

Second flight

A second launch was scheduled for 9 June 2010,^[26] but the launch was scrubbed due to a malfunction of a fire protection system.^[27] After the problem was resolved, the launch was rescheduled for 10 June, and the rocket launched at 08:01 UTC. The launch ended in failure 137 seconds (2 minutes 17 seconds) later, when contact with the rocket was lost.^[2] Ahn Byung-man, Minister of Science and Technology, told reporters that the rocket was believed to have exploded in midair.

Thirteen engineering experts from South Korea and thirteen from Russia formed a Failure Review Board and met in August 2010 to discuss the launch. They were able to officially conclude that the launch had failed. Further investigation was ongoing as to the cause of the failure.^[28] As of 11 November 2010, a definitive cause for the failure had not been determined.^[29] According to the Director-General of Khrunichev, Vladimir Nesterov, the telemetry data received by his company does not point to any off-nominal performance of the Khrunichev-built first stage.^[30] A new team consisting of 30 experts was formed to investigate the cause of the failure.^[31] According to findings of a Russian independent commission made public in August 2011, an error had occurred in the rocket's second stage produced by South Korea.^[32]

Impediments to South Korean rocket development

South Korea's efforts to build an indigenous space launch vehicle is marred^{[clarification needed]} due to persistent political pressure of the United States, who had for many decades hindered South Korea's indigenous rocket and missile development programs^[33] in fear of their possible connection to clandestine military ballistic missile programs.^[34] South Korea has sought the assistance of foreign countries such as Russia through MTCR commitments to supplement its restricted domestic rocket technology.

Comparable rockets

• Unha
• VLS-1

See also

• 2010 in spaceflight
• Comparison of small lift launch systems
• List of launch vehicles
• List of Korea-related topics
• Timeline of first orbital launches by country

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Lee, Joon-seung (26 August 2009). "S. Korean satellite lost shortly after launch: gov't". Yonhap. http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/techscience/2009/08/26/15/0601000000AEN20090826005500320F.HTML. Retrieved 26 August 2009. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "(LEAD) (rocket launch) Ground controllers lose contact with space rocket after takeoff". Yonhap News. 10 June 2010. http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/techscience/2010/06/10/13/0601000000AEN20100610010100320F.HTML. Retrieved 10 June 2010. 
3. ^ "S. Korea Completes Work on Naro Space Center". The Korea Times. 10 June 2009. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/06/113_46562.html. Retrieved 9 June 2010. 
4. ^ "Korea's 1st Space Rocket Named 'Naro'". The Chosun Ilbo. 11 May 2009. http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/05/11/2009051100300.html. Retrieved 31 December 2009. 
5. ^ "한국 첫 우주발사체 이름 '나로' 선정 [Selecting the name of Korean first space launch vehicle as 'Naro']" (in Korean). inews24.com. 10 May 2009. http://itnews.inews24.com/php/news_view.php?g_serial=413562&g_menu=020400. Retrieved 10 May 2009. 
6. ^ "KSLV (Korean Space Launch Vehicle)". Jane's Information Group. 24 January 2008. http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Space-Systems-and-Industry/KSLV-Korean-Space-Launch-Vehicle-Korea-South.html. Retrieved 9 June 2010. 
7. ^ KSR-3 on astronautix.com
8. ^ ^{a b} Wade, Mark. "KSLV". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/kslv.htm. Retrieved 9 June 2010. 
9. ^ "Космический ракетный комплекс KSLV (Южная Корея) [Space Rocket Complex KSLV (South Korea)]" (in Russian). Khrunichev. 26 October 2004. http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=73. Retrieved 9 June 2010. 
10. ^ Kim, Tong-hyung (19 October 2008). "Home-Made Satellite to Be Put Into Orbit Next Year". The Korea Times. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2008/10/123_32918.html. Retrieved 9 June 2010. 
11. ^ "Russia as Space-Race Mediator". Korea Times. 03-16-10. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2010/09/197_62462.html. 
12. ^ Lee, Joon-seung (25 August 2009). "S. Korea to launch first space rocket on Aug. 19". Yonhap. http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/techscience/2009/08/11/6/0601000000AEN20090811006200320F.HTML. Retrieved 26 August 2009. 
13. ^ "KSLV - Korean Space Launch Vehicle". GlobalSecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/world/rok/kslv.htm. Retrieved 9 June 2010. 
14. ^ "KSR Korea Sounding Rocket". GlobalSecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/world/rok/ksr.htm. 
15. ^ "South Korea's first space launch to take place 30 July". The Information Company. 3 June 2009. http://www.domain-b.com/aero/space/launch_veh/20090603_kslv_1.html. Retrieved 26 August 2009. 
16. ^ "S. Korea to launch the nation's first rocket on Aug. 11". Yonhap. 1 August 2009. http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2009/08/01/99/0503000000AEN20090801002300320F.HTML. Retrieved 9 June 2010. 
17. ^ ^{a b} Clark, Stephen (25 August 2009). "Historic South Korean satellite launch fails". Spaceflight Now. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0908/25kslv/. Retrieved 25 August 2009. 
18. ^ "(rocket launch) S. Korea's Naro-1 rocket lifts off from space center". Yonhap News. 10 June 2010. http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2010/06/10/0200000000AEN20100610009200320.HTML. Retrieved 10 June 2010. 
19. ^ "나로호 6월 9일에 두번째 도전 [S. Korea aborts space rocket launch]" (in Korean). Yonhap. 19 April 2010. http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/techscience/2010/06/09/26/0601000000AEN20100609010200320F.HTML. Retrieved 9 June 2010. 
20. ^ "S Korean space rocket might have exploded: science minister". Xinhua. 10 June 2010. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sci/2010-06/10/c_13343843.htm. Retrieved 10 June 2010. 
21. ^ Naro Spacecraft Approved for Launch from Naro Space Center
22. ^ S.Korea first rocket launch set for August 11
23. ^ http://www.telecomskorea.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7382&Itemid=2
24. ^ "South Korea plans to allocate $1.3 bln on new carrier rocket". RIA Novosti. 30 September 2009. http://en.rian.ru/world/20090930/156297037.html. Retrieved 30 September 2009. 
25. ^ ^{a b} What happened to space rocket Naro during 9 minute span?... 'Fairing fails to detach, satellite disintegrates'
26. ^ "South Korean rocket ready for launch". BBC News. 9 June 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10269459.stm. Retrieved 9 June 2010. 
27. ^ Moon, Gwang-lip (10 June 2010). "Technical glitch grounds Naro-1 rocket". JoongAng Daily. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2921636. Retrieved 10 June 2010. 
28. ^ Third Naro to be launched in 2011
29. ^ [1]
30. ^ Interview with Vladimir Nesterov, Director-General, Khrunichev Space Center Marker.ru
31. ^ Probe into failed launch, KBS World
32. ^ Russian equipment not at fault for South Korean rocket accident
33. ^ "South Korea's first rocket ready - at last". Asia Times. August 11, 2009. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/KH11Dg01.html. Retrieved Aug. 21, 2010. 
34. ^ "S. Korea DAPA commissioner confirms 500 km-range ballistic missile development research". The Hankyeoreh. October 9, 2009. http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_international/381039.html. Retrieved Aug. 21, 2010. 

External links

• KARI (Korea Aerospace Research Institute)
  • KSLV official website
• KARI Space activities
• South Korea Completes Space Center For Rocket Launch
• Gov't Approves Launch of S. Korea's First Space Rocket
• KSLV-I from Encyclopedia Astronautica