S. Korea conducts final exercises for homegrown space rocket launch
SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has started final safety exercises for its homegrown space rocket, the science ministry said Thursday, as the country gears up for its scheduled launch next month.
The 200-ton Nuri is set to lift off on Oct. 21 by carrying a 1.5-ton mock payload at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, 473 kilometers south of Seoul.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said 11 government branches and agencies, including the military and the police, began final safety exercises, such as restricting the airspace and waters nearby the launch site, under identical conditions of the launch next month.
In a bid to acquire its own rocket technology, South Korea has invested around 2 trillion won (US$1.8 billion) in the three-stage Nuri since 2010 and finally unveiled a test model of the rocket in June this year.
South Korea successfully launched its first-ever Naro space rocket in 2013, though its first stage was built in Russia.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
Ateez to drop new Japanese EP next week
-
Gov't to significantly increase international flights to meet travel demand
-
(2nd LD) BTS wins three Billboard Music Awards, marking 6th year to win an award
-
Crypto investor probed over allegedly visiting house of Terraform's CEO
-
(2nd LD) N. Korea still unresponsive to S. Korea's outreach for talks on COVID-19: official
-
S. Korea to send condolence delegation to UAE over death of president
-
(LEAD) Yoon, PPP lawmakers travel to Gwangju en masse to commemorate 1980 democracy uprising
-
(5th LD) N.K. leader, wearing mask, chairs meeting on omicron outbreak
-
(URGENT) N. Korea says fever symptoms reported among more than 18,000 people Thursday alone amid COVID-19 outbreak
-
(LEAD) Presidential secretary resigns amid controversy over remarks on homosexuality
-
(2nd LD) S. Korea, U.S. have 'plan B' ready in case of N.K. provocation during Biden's visit
-
Former President Moon scheduled to meet Biden in Seoul this weekend
-
(3rd LD) N. Korean missile or nuclear test very possible during Biden's Asia trip: Sullivan
-
(LEAD) Yoon to virtually attend summit launching IPEF
-
Yoon to announce S. Korea's participation in IPEF