S. Korea postpones launch of homemade rocket due to technical problems

[Courtesy of KARI]

SEOUL -- South Korea has postponed the launch of Korea Space Launch Vehicle-II, nicknamed "Nuri," due to technical problems found about two and a half hours before launch. The science ministry said that a communication problem occurred between a computer that controls the low-temperature helium supply valves and its counterpart computer installed at the launch facility.

The first Nuri carrying a dummy satellite was fired into space in October 2021 but it failed to put the satellite into orbit. The second Nuri was successfully sent into space to place an actual satellite into orbit in June 2022. The third Nuri carrying a commercial satellite was scheduled to be launched at 6:30 p.m. (0930 GMT) on May 24.

Vice Science Minister Oh Tae Seok held a press briefing at about 4:15 p.m. and said: "The problem occurred at around 3:00 p.m. The malfunction which we could not detect yesterday suddenly appeared." Oh said that the technical issue is not related to the launch vehicle which would stay upright on the launching facility until the launch control committee decides to resume the launching process or not on May 25.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com

S. Korea postpones launch of homemade rocket due to technical problems

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