South Korea launched its first home-grown space rocket on June 21 in the country’s second attempt, months after its first take-off proved unsuccessful to position a payload into orbit.
If the mission is successful, South Korea will earn the reputation of becoming the 10th nation in the world to put a satellite into space with its domestically created technology. According to experts, the success of the launch would also boost the nation’s increasing space ambitions and prove, especially to its rival North Korea, that it has the potential to create technology to build space-oriented surveillance systems and powerful missiles.
As per an official report, the three-stage Nuri rocket has a functioning “performance verification” satellite that lifted off at 4 PM from South Korea’s only space launch site on a tiny island off its southern coast. Live TV telecast showed the rocket with the South Korean flag going up into the air with dazzling flames and thick white smoke. Officials said the Nuri rocket is not intended for military purposes. The result of the Launch will be announced by the officials later on Tuesday.
The first attempt in October 2021 failed as even though the rocket’s dummy payload got to the intended altitude, the rocket’s third stage engine got exhausted earlier than expected, due to which the payload couldn’t enter the orbit.
