South Korea prepares test of 1st domestically made space rocket

After relying on other countries to launch its satellites since the early 1990s, South Korea is now trying to become the 10th nation to send a satellite into space with its own technology.

South Korea was preparing to test-launch its first domestically produced space rocket on Thursday in what officials describe as an important step in its pursuit of a satellite launch program.

If weather and other conditions prevail, the three-stage Nuri rocket was expected to be launched at around 5 pm (0800 GMT) with an aim to deliver a dummy payload, a 1.5-ton block of stainless steel and aluminum, into orbit 600 to 800 km (372 to 497 miles) above Earth.

“The launch was initially scheduled an hour earlier but was delayed because engineers needed more time to examine some valves inside the rocket,” South Korean Vice Science Minister Yong Hong-taek told reporters.