Naro Rocket`s Launch Rescheduled for Tuesday

The launch of Korea`s first space rocket will be rescheduled for Tuesday after seven delays due to technical glitches.

The Education, Science and Technology Ministry yesterday said the software glitch that caused the last delay last week has been fixed, so the launch will commence at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Vice Education Minister Kim Jung-hyun also said nothing is expected to disturb the rescheduled launch.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute said new software was installed Thursday afternoon on the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1, or Naro, and its scientific satellite.

Institute director Lee Joo-jin said the satellite is in its best condition, adding that another round of close checks will be made on the device today.

The satellite will be moved to the launch pad again and re-erected vertically tomorrow. The following procedures will be the same as those taken last week.

If wind speed exceeds 15 meters a second or if it rains, the launch will be put off until Wednesday. If a technical glitch reoccurs like a software error or weather is unfavorable, the launch will be put off until next month.

The ministry said a September liftoff is inevitable if the satellite fails to be launched Tuesday, suggesting that another suspension of the launch could lead to a prolonged delay.

The liftoff was originally set for 5 p.m. Wednesday but was called off after the automatic launch sequence detected a drop in pressure inside a helium tank regulating a number of valves less than eight minutes before launch.

kunta@donga.com