Dong-A hails unsung heroes of successful Naro rocket launch

Tireless efforts and passion for exploration bore fruit at long last for the Korean space program on Wednesday. Certain figures have gained public acclaim and support, but many contributors shed silent tears at the mission control building of the Naro Space Center in Goheung County, South Jeolla Province.

The Dong-A Ilbo spoke to the unsung heroes who have spearheaded the successful launch of the Naro by faithfully and tirelessly doing their duties, staying at the isolated space center for many months.

○ Eyewitness to space history

Kim Min-hyeon, chief of the facilities management team who took charge of the construction technology group for the Naro Space Center on Nov. 16, 2003, moved to Oe (Outer) Naro Island accompanied by some 10 staff members, laid the foundation, and began installing makeshift buildings. They bulldozed hilly mountains and built new roads before putting up the mission control and general assembly buildings. They are the eyewitnesses of the establishment of the space center.

“Our son, whom my wife and I had at an older age, used to attend a kindergarten that regularly held a performance event for parents. I couldn`t go and thus I was repeatedly blamed for my absence... In March, our son will enter high school this March. Time truly flies,” Kim said.

Wednesday’s launch began with his action as well. At 6:30 a.m. Monday, when the Naro was to be moved to the launch pad, he started operating a gas turbine to supply electricity and said he prayed for success.

○ Putting the satellite into its targeted orbit

Cho In-hyeon, chief of the kick motor team, developed the kick motor, or the thrust rocket that propelled the upper segment (phase 2) of the Naro rocket. The kick motor ignited 395 seconds after lift-off and put the science satellite into its targeted orbit. The device is highly sensitive to temperature and humidity, and Cho could not afford to miss checking it even a single day.

"After we confirmed that the kick motor successfully functioned, I relaxed and burst into tears unknowingly. I`d tell my daughter that she could pursue a career that she`d like to,’ but I want to dissuade her from becoming a rocket scientist," he said.

Cho commended staff members who made important contributions in the development of the kick motor, including Seol Woo-seok, chief of the office for Korean standard rocket engine development and the former head of the rocket engine team; Choi Hwan-seok, head of the combustor team; and Oh Seung-hyeop, head of the rocket thrust engine team. Seol closely inspected the structure of the first-phase rocket made in Russia, while Choi supported combustion tests.

○ Designer of the Naro trajectory

Noh Woong-rae, chief of the rocket system office, was the first to confirm the success of Wednesday’s launch. He has led trajectory design since the early 1990s, when Korea started rocket research. Monitoring the trajectory sent by the Naro satellite as it communicates with the earth station again this time, he controls the satellite’s flying posture to ensure that it flies as planned.

“I designed the trajectory of the Naro’s flight and conducted numerous flight simulations. It`s truly rewarding to see the success of the launch,” Noh said.

○ Supervisor of Naro’s stabilization

Kim In-seon, chief of the rocket thermal and aerodynamic team, was tasked with ensuring that the Naro could withstand any temperature. Just prior to the launch, dozens of tons of liquid oxygen at minus 183 degrees Celsius were injected into the rocket. At the moment of lift-off, heat as high as 3,000 degrees was ejected down toward earth.

Kim’s mission was to secure materials and technologies required to protect high precision devices in the rocket from tremendous cold and heat.

enhanced@donga.com