Successful Launching The First Domestic Liquid Fuel Rocket

A liquid fuel rocket (photo) developed solely with domestic technology was launched successfully from an island before the Tae-an Peninsular, Southern Chungcheong Province, at 2:52 p.m., November 28.

Although South Korean rocket technology has succeeded in developing several scientific-purpose rockets and missiles so far, it merely provided bases for solid fuel ones, and furthermore, it is first time that a liquid fuel rocket that could be used for a space booster was blast-off.

Chae, Yon-seok, Director of Korea Aerospace Research Institute announced on November 28 that a liquid fuel rocket (KSR III) was successfully launched from a military installation on west coast.

Chae said that the rocket successfully achieved its mission to reach an altitude of 42.7km and measure the magnetic fields of Earth and fell off on the west sea, 79km southwest of its launchpad, 231 seconds after the lift-off, as planned.

The rocket with a length of 14 meters, diameter of 1 meter, weight of 6ton, uses kerosene and liquid oxygen as fuel and oxidizer respectively, and 300 air pressures of nitrogen gas push and shoot out the kerosene and liquid oxygen.

Cho, Kwang-rae, in charge of the rocket development, the Aerospace Research Institute stressed that the rocket consists of 100% domestic parts, and the institute plans to develop a full-scale space booster (KSLV1) that can lift-off 100kg satellites by 2005 by improving the liquid fuel rocket engine developed at this time.

The rocket which completed its mission successfully was made with investment of 78 billion won input by the Ministry of Science and Technology. Korea Air Space Research Institute, Hyundai Mobis, Hanhwa, and domestic universities participated in the project.

Due to the rocket launch, operation of ships and aircraft were controled on West Sea on that day.

In the meantime, the Government held 11th Korea Institute of Science and Technology at the day, and confirmed that it will develop a communications marine weather satellite for weather forecast and management of marine resources by investing 288 billion won by 2008.

dongho@donga.com