The Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) South Korea plans to go ahead with a delayed rocket launch next week, in what will be their third attempt in four years to put a satellite into orbit. Plans outlined by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology state that the 140-tonne rocket will lift off between 4:00-6:55pm (0700-0955 GMT) from the Naro Space Centre on the south coast next Thursday.
The project has been plagued with problems in the past, with failed attempts in both 2009 and 2010. In 2009, the carrier rocket achieved orbit, but faulty release mechanisms prevented proper deployment of the satellite. In the 2010 effort, the carrier exploded two minutes into its flight.
This time, the initial launch date of October 26 was cancelled after engineers detected a broken rubber seal in a connector between the launch pad and the first stage of the carrier rocket.
The Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) has been manufactured by Russia and South Korea.