South Korea launches first domestic space rocket, but mission fails

Seoul: South Korea has launched its first domestically developed space rocket but failed to put its dummy payload into orbit. This is a setback of Korea’s attempt to join the ranks of advanced space exploration nations. 

South Korea launched the rocket on Thursday, as a step towards an increasingly ambitious space program for country.

Informally called Nuri, the Korean Space Rocket II, adorned with the Korean flag, followed a pillar of fire and climbed upwards from Goheung on the southern coast trailing a column of flame.

After watching the launch at the control centre, country’s president, Moon Jae-in said all three stages of the rocket worked, taking it to an altitude of 700 km, and the 1.5-tonne payload separated successfully.

But “putting a dummy satellite into orbit remains an unfinished mission”, he added.

“Though it fell short of achieving its goals perfectly, we have achieved very good feats with our first launch.”

Moon further said that another attempt will be made in May 2022.

“Countries that lead in space technology will lead the future. And we are not too late to do it,” added Moon.

At the time, he said, “By 2030, we will realize our dream of landing a spacecraft on the moon.”

Ballistic missiles and space rockets use similar technology.

In Asia, China, Japan and India are all implementing advanced space programs while North Korea is a recent entrant to a national club with its own satellite launch capabilities.  

So far only six countries, excluding North Korea, have successfully launched a ton of payload with their own rockets.