By It appears that the South Korean attempt to put a satellite into orbit is officially a failure:
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.” [Joong Ang Ilbo]
The launch may have been a failure, but I have no doubt that the Koreans will continue to move forward with their space program. I have always believed that when Koreans put their mind to do something than they will accomplish it and to me it appears they are committed to developing their space program for national pride reasons and most importantly commercial business reasons. For example who would have thought a couple of decades ago that Hyundai would pass Ford in total sales? That is why I say it wouldn’t be wise to discount Korea’s attempts to enter the space industry as well.
1:16 pm on August 26th, 2009 1
Difference between North Korea and South Korea:
South Korea: failed launch – and they readily admit it, and vow to get it right next time.
North Korea: failed launch – and they tell the world the satellite is now broadcasting patriotic songs all over the world about the great leader.
2:18 pm on August 26th, 2009 2
The Hyundai over Ford sales isn't a big shock at all. The U.S. companies always made junk because they were greedy and took advantage of American's patriotism. In other words, they made crap cars on purpose because for a long time stupid people would keep on buying them. Obviously, American's finally wizened up.
Rocketry is extremely tough to succeed at. S. Korea may eventually be successful but I would not be shocked to see a few more failures (like the U.S. SOviets, Japanese, Europeans ALL have had) before they get it right.
2:35 pm on August 26th, 2009 3
Can you imagine the outrage and demonstrations if an Australian satellite crashed near Busan? If I were from Oz, I'd be seriously pissed off.
3:00 pm on August 26th, 2009 4
Australians are a hardy people not given to complain about much. I've been to Darwin. It's more of a large town than a small city on a north tip coast of the continent with thousands of kilometers of open outback to it's south.
I would gather they would be more enthused about the attention received from a nearby satellite drop than show any concern about a near miss.
3:39 pm on August 26th, 2009 5
What's next? A Korean on the Moon by 2015!!!!
4:54 pm on August 26th, 2009 6
The project was most probably rushed as a result of North Korea's recent launches. Case in point: how many of you had heard of the project before a couple of weeks before the launch?
Simply put, they should have launched a dummy payload.
10:00 pm on August 26th, 2009 7
Launch site to Darwin is 3,300 miles or 5,200 kilometers
An intermediate range ballistic missle (IRBM) is categorized by a range between 3,500-5,500 km. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't KS sign an arms agreement that it would not procure or develop an ICBM (greater than 5,000 km range)?
Another point to think about is this: If South Korea wanted to place a communications satellite in orbit, that satellite requires a Geostationary orbit. A geostationary orbit is best at a point 22,000 miles above sea level directly above the equator.
Darwin is about 825 miles south of the equator.
Believe what you want, but I'll believe what I want. Sure you can develop the bomb in secrecy, we did it, and so did everyone else. A missle launch, well everyone is going to see that so why not "hide in plain view" your delivery system. North Korea did and everyone said "its not a satelite, its a delivery vehicle".
Why is South Korea any different?
11:56 pm on August 26th, 2009 8
I seriously doubt if you told someone on the street in the US twenty years ago that Hyundai would be outselling Ford they would have believed it. Now twenty years ago you said Toyota than you probably would have a good number of people believing that.
And yes you are right there will undoubtedly be more failures as the Koreans move forward with their space program because it is not an easy industry to get established.
1:43 am on August 27th, 2009 9
Sorry, an ICBM is categorized as having a range greater than 5,500km and not 5,000km