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South Korea launches first rocket South Korea launches first rocket
(about 3 hours later)
South Korea has successfully launched its first space rocket, which is carrying a scientific satellite. South Korea has launched its first space rocket, though a scientific satellite it was carrying failed to enter into its proper orbit.
The two-stage Naro rocket lifted off from an island off the south coast. South Korean officials described the launch as a "partial success".
The launch was watched with excitement by millions of people in South Korea, but is being viewed with suspicion by the country's northern neighbour. Millions of South Koreans watched the launch, but it is being viewed with suspicion by North Korea.
North Korea was recently subjected to UN sanctions for its own rocket launch, which was widely regarded as a cover for a long-range missile test. The North was recently subjected to UN sanctions for its own rocket launch, which was widely regarded as a cover for a long-range missile test.
No North Korean satellite has been detected in space, although Pyongyang insists its rocket launch worked and the device is now orbiting the earth transmitting revolutionary melodies.No North Korean satellite has been detected in space, although Pyongyang insists its rocket launch worked and the device is now orbiting the earth transmitting revolutionary melodies.
Huge leap forward? South Korea's two-stage Naro rocket lifted off on Tuesday from an island off the south coast.
'Potential military uses'
The rocket - 33m (108 ft) long and weighing some 140 tonnes - was the country's half-a-billion dollar bid to join the exclusive club of spacefaring nations.
The 33m-high KLSLV-1 is South Korea's first space rocketThe 33m-high KLSLV-1 is South Korea's first space rocket
South Korea's half-a-billion dollar bid to join the exclusive club of space-faring nations is an attempt to place a scientific observation satellite into orbit. Its Russian liquid-fuelled first-stage was said to produce 1,700 kilonewtons of thrust at launch.
If successful in its mission, South Korea will become only the tenth country with the ability to carry out such launches from their own soil. The second stage, burning a solid fuel, was produced by South Korean engineers.
Before this, South Korea had always relied on other countries to put its satellites into orbit. It was intended to generate 80kN of thrust and to place the Earth observation satellite into its final orbit just a few hundred kilometres above the planet.
It initially planned to launch the rocket in late July, but delayed it several times due to technical problems. Tuesday's launch, though, went according to plan. South Korea has previously sent 10 satellites into space using launch vehicles from other countries.
The KSLV-1 rocket is 33m long and weighs some 140 tonnes. Its Russian liquid-fuelled first-stage is said to produce 1,700 kilonewtons of thrust at launch. It initially planned to launch the rocket in late July, but delayed it several times due to technical problems.
The second stage, which burns a solid fuel, was produced by South Korean engineers. It is intended to generate 80kN of thrust and is designed to place the Earth observation satellite into its final orbit just a few hundred kilometres above the planet.
Seoul has rejected any comparison with Pyongyang's rocket launch and says its rocket is part of a peaceful civilian space programme.Seoul has rejected any comparison with Pyongyang's rocket launch and says its rocket is part of a peaceful civilian space programme.
But some security analysts have suggested that a commercial space programme could still alter the long-term strategic balance in North East Asia, as all rocket technology has potential military uses.But some security analysts have suggested that a commercial space programme could still alter the long-term strategic balance in North East Asia, as all rocket technology has potential military uses.