Ministry blames Naro failure on faulty software
Published: 21 Aug. 2009, 04:33
GOHEUNG, South Jeolla - A glitch in the automatic launch sequence prevented the launch of Korea’s first two-engine space rocket scheduled for Wednesday, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said yesterday.
The software sensor connected to the automatic launch sequence that checks high-pressure tanks in Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1, or KSLV-1, had malfunctioned, according to Kim Jung-hyun, a vice minister in the ministry at a press briefing at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla.
The most likely fault is that the sensor misinterpreted data during the sequence, Kim said.
However, there appeared to be no defect in the hardware related to the high-pressure helium tanks that control rocket valves, Kim added.
The vice minister said the problem could be resolved within one to three days since a technical glitch in the software sensor is considered a relatively minor problem.
Kim hinted that the new launch date could be Aug. 26.
“If the new date for liftoff is set after Aug. 26, a lot of procedures have to be followed including notifying the International Maritime Organization and awaiting the decision,” Kim said.
“Currently, engineers from Korea and Russia are jointly investigating the problem with the software, which was created by Russian experts, to see what effects it could have on the safety of the launch,” he said.
The rocket’s launch was abruptly suspended in the middle of the countdown, at seven minutes and 56 seconds. Onlookers were left disappointed by the failed launch. Technical difficulties have delayed blastoff on seven occasions so far.
If successful, Korea will become the 10th country to send a satellite into orbit from its own shores.
By Park Bang-ju, Lee Min-yong [[email protected]]
The software sensor connected to the automatic launch sequence that checks high-pressure tanks in Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1, or KSLV-1, had malfunctioned, according to Kim Jung-hyun, a vice minister in the ministry at a press briefing at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla.
The most likely fault is that the sensor misinterpreted data during the sequence, Kim said.
However, there appeared to be no defect in the hardware related to the high-pressure helium tanks that control rocket valves, Kim added.
The vice minister said the problem could be resolved within one to three days since a technical glitch in the software sensor is considered a relatively minor problem.
Kim hinted that the new launch date could be Aug. 26.
“If the new date for liftoff is set after Aug. 26, a lot of procedures have to be followed including notifying the International Maritime Organization and awaiting the decision,” Kim said.
“Currently, engineers from Korea and Russia are jointly investigating the problem with the software, which was created by Russian experts, to see what effects it could have on the safety of the launch,” he said.
The rocket’s launch was abruptly suspended in the middle of the countdown, at seven minutes and 56 seconds. Onlookers were left disappointed by the failed launch. Technical difficulties have delayed blastoff on seven occasions so far.
If successful, Korea will become the 10th country to send a satellite into orbit from its own shores.
By Park Bang-ju, Lee Min-yong [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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