Real size replica of Naro (left) |
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| Function | launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Khrunichev (first stage) KARI (second stage) |
| Size | |
| Height | 33 m (108 ft) |
| Diameter | 3 m (9.9 ft) |
| Mass | 140,000 kg (300,000 lb) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Operational |
| Launch sites | Naro Space Center |
| Total launches | 2 |
| Successes | 0 |
| Failures | 2[1][2] |
| Maiden flight | 25 August 2009 |
| First stage | |
| Engines | 1 RD-151 |
| Thrust | 1670 kN |
| Specific impulse | 338 sec |
| Burn time | 300 seconds |
| Fuel | LOX/Kerosene |
| Second stage | |
| Engines | 1 KSR-1 |
| Thrust | 86.2 kN |
| Specific impulse | 250 sec |
| Burn time | 25 seconds |
| Fuel | Solid |
The Naro-1,[3] previously designated Korea Space Launch Vehicle or KSLV, is South Korea's first carrier rocket, which made its maiden flight on 25 August 2009. It is built by KARI, the national space agency of South Korea, and Korean Air, with the first stage provided by Khrunichev (Russia). It was twice launched from the country's new spaceport, the Naro Space Center, but both launches ended in failure. The official name[4] of the first KSLV rocket, KSLV-I, is Naro, which is the name of the region in which Naro Space Center is located.[5]
The KSLV-I launch vehicle is based on the Universal Rocket Module, the first stage of the Russian Angara rocket, combined with a solid-fueled second stage built by South Korea.
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In 1992, South Korea developed and launched several satellite systems and rockets overseas, such as the solid-fueled KSR-1 and KSR-2 sounding rockets. In 2000, South Korea began construction of the Naro Space Center, located on Naro Island in Goheung, 485 kilometres (301 mi) south of Seoul, with Russian assistance. The work was completed by the launch of the 6,000-kilogram (13,000 lb) KSR-3 liquid-propellant sounding rocket on 28 November 2002. South Korea announced in 2002 that it intended to develop a small satellite launch vehicle by 2005 that would be based on technology flown on the KSR-3 test vehicle. The launcher would be entirely indigenous, based on the 122.500-kilonewton (27,539 lbf) thrust LOX/kerosene motor used for the KSR-3 rocket stage.[6][7] In 2005 a change was announced, indicating that they would use the Russian RD-191 as the vehicle's first stage. The program, like that of the Angara, was subject to continuous funding shortages and schedule delays.[8]
On 26 October 2004, during the visit of a Khrunichev State Company delegation headed by A. A. Medvedev, Director General to South Korea, a contract was signed to design and build a Space Rocket Complex for the small-lift launch vehicle KSLV-1. The design represented a joint effort between Khrunichev State Enterprise, who would build the first stage of KSLV-1, and South Korea, who would design and produce the second stage. As the prerequisite to signing the contract South Korea joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). All documentation was reviewed by the Russian Space Agency (RSA), and the joint project to build the Korean rocket complex was approved.[9] The vehicle was unveiled at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province in October 2008. South Korea has spent some KR₩500 billion (US$490 million) since 2002 on the project.[10]
The whole rocket was originally planned to be completely indigenous, but due to technological constraints largely spurred by political pressure from the United States that discouraged independent research and development of rocket technology by South Korea,[11] KARI decided that the KSLV would be built on the basis of the universal rocket module (URM) designed for the Russian Angara family of rockets.[8] The first stage of the vehicle uses the Russian RD-151 engine, which is essentially the RD-191 de-powered to 170 tonnes-force (1.7 MN; 370,000 lbf)[12][13] from 190 tonnes. The second stage is based on the KSR-1 solid-propellant sounding rocket developed and built by KARI.[14] The launch vehicle weighs 140 tonnes (310,000 lb), stands 33 metres (108 ft) tall and has a diameter of almost 3 metres (9 ft 10 in).[15]
| Flight # | Variant | Date of Launch | Launch Location | Payload | Outcome | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naro-1 | 2009-08-25 08:00 UTC (17:00 KST)[16] | Naro Space Center | STSAT-2A | Failure[17] | Fairing did not separate, failed to reach orbit[1] |
| 2 | Naro-1 | 2010-06-10, 08:01 UTC (17:01 KST)[18] | Naro Space Center[19] | STSAT-2B | Failure | Signal lost 137 seconds after launch,[2] the rocket may have exploded[20] |
The South Korean government officially approved the launch of the KSLV in June 2009, which was expected to send the STSAT-2A satellite into orbit.[21] The launch, tentatively scheduled for 11 August, received approval from the National Space Committee after experts reviewed all aspects of the flight plan established by the state-run Korea Aerospace Research Institute.[22] South Korea notified the International Maritime Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization of the launch in order to give notice to ships and planes operating in the region on the launch date of the potential hazard.[23]
The first attempt to launch Naro-1 was conducted on 19 August 2009, but the launch was canceled seven minutes 56 seconds before launch. The second attempt on 25 August 2009 succeeded in taking off from the Naro Space Center. The Khrunichev-built first stage reportedly performed nominally,[17] and the second stage separation took place as expected,[24] but the payload fairing separation system malfunctioned and half of the satellite protective cover stayed bolted to the second stage. The added weight of the remaining fairing caused the rocket to tumble upwards[25] and to be thrown off its nominal course, soaring 20 kilometres (12 mi) above the planned altitude before falling down.[1] The payload (STSAT-2) has reentered the atmosphere and disintegrated.[25]
A second launch was scheduled for 9 June 2010,[26] but the launch was scrubbed due to a malfunction of a fire protection system.[27] After the problem was resolved, the launch was rescheduled for 10 June, and the rocket launched at 08:01 UTC. The launch ended in failure 137 seconds (2 minutes 17 seconds) later, when contact with the rocket was lost.[2] Ahn Byung-man, Minister of Science and Technology, told reporters that the rocket was believed to have exploded in midair.
Thirteen engineering experts from South Korea and thirteen from Russia formed a Failure Review Board and met in August 2010 to discuss the launch. They were able to officially conclude that the launch had failed. Further investigation was ongoing as to the cause of the failure.[28] As of 11 November 2010, a definitive cause for the failure had not been determined.[29] According to the Director-General of Khrunichev, Vladimir Nesterov, the telemetry data received by his company does not point to any off-nominal performance of the Khrunichev-built first stage.[30] A new team consisting of 30 experts was formed to investigate the cause of the failure.[31] According to findings of a Russian independent commission made public in August 2011, an error had occurred in the rocket's second stage produced by South Korea.[32]
South Korea's efforts to build an indigenous space launch vehicle is marred due to persistent political pressure of the United States, who had for many decades hindered South Korea's indigenous rocket and missile development programs[33] in fear of their possible connection to clandestine military ballistic missile programs.[34] South Korea has sought the assistance of foreign countries such as Russia through MTCR commitments to supplement its restricted domestic rocket technology.
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