Faulty shield eyed as cause of failure to orbit a satellite

Officials yesterday morning stopped trying to detect the first space satellite launched from South Korea, tentatively concluding it had been destroyed by falling back into the atmosphere.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute said later that it was notified by the Australian Embassy that unidentified remnants possibly from the satellite launch had been found near Darwin, Australia. The institute said it was dispatching researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology to investigate.

“We haven’t received any information about the rocket even through the North American Aerospace Defense Command,” said Park Jeong-joo, head of the institute’s Korea Space Launch Vehicle Systems Office, in a press briefing. “It is apparent that the spacecraft fell to Earth so there’s no possibility the satellite will send any sort of signal later.”

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said yesterday the apparent reason the satellite didn’t reach orbit was the failure of one of its two shields to dislodge. The shields protect the satellite at the top of the rocket.

“Cooperative research by Korea and Russia shows the spaceship has failed to enter orbit due to the weight from the remaining shield,” said Kim Jung-hyun, vice science and technology minister. “We will clarify the exact reason why it didn’t separate as planned and will take corrective measures next time.”

The rocket, widely called “Naro,” took off from Korea’s space center about 485 kilometers (301 miles) south of Seoul at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. It was carrying a domestically developed satellite for observing the atmosphere and oceans. The first- and second-stage vehicles separated as planned. For the rocket to reach orbit, a speed of at least eight kilometers per second is necessary. But the two-stage rocket, developed with Russia’s help, reached only 6.2 kilometers per second. Each shield weighed 300 kilograms (661 pounds), while the satellite weighed 100 kilograms.

The failure of the space project that cost the Korean government hundreds of billions of won could spur a dispute over whether Russia or Korea is responsible for the failure. Under the agreement between the countries, Korea holds the right to launch the vehicle a maximum of two more times. The exact number depends on which country is responsible for the failure. If Korea is responsible, Russia is contracted to supply only one more primary-stage rocket. The next launch has been tentatively slated for next May with Russia supplying the same rocket used this time. Korea already has produced a twin of the satellite lost Tuesday.

Should a third try be needed, the Satellite Technology Research Center of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology said it will easily be able to produce one. It was not clear yesterday whether the failure in the correct separation of the shield resulted from Korea’s immature rocket production skills or from a malfunction in power supply from the first-stage Russian rocket. The robotic section of the Russian rocket is that country’s latest model and is slated to be installed in the Russian rocket fleet in 2011. However, it hasn’t undergone extensive real-life testing. Vice Minister Kim said there will be no changes in Korea’s plan to launch its own spacecraft without the help of others in 2018. Korea produced its first self-made satellite in 1992.

By Seo Ji-eun [spring@joongang.co.kr]