Naro Space Center

The Naro Space Center is a South Korean spaceport in South Jeolla's Goheung County, operated by the state-run Korea Aerospace Research Institute.

Naro Space Center

Korean: 나로우주센터
Summary
Airport typeSpaceport
OwnerGovernment of South Korea
OperatorKARI
LocationOuter Naro Island, Goheung, South Jeolla, South Korea
OpenedJune 11, 2009 (2009-06-11)
Time zoneKorea Standard Time (+09:00)
Coordinates34°25′55″N 127°32′06″E
Websitewww.kari.re.kr/narospacecenter
Map
Naro Space Center is located in South Korea
Naro Space Center
Naro Space Center
Naro Space Center is located in Asia
Naro Space Center
Naro Space Center
Naro Space Center is located in Earth
Naro Space Center
Naro Space Center
Naro Space Center
Hangul
나로우주센터
Hanja
羅老宇宙센터
Revised RomanizationNaro Uju Senteo
McCune–ReischauerNaro Uju Sentŏ

The spaceport is located about 485 km (300 mi) south of Seoul.[1] It includes two launch pads, a control tower, rocket assembly and test facilities, facilities for satellite control testing and assembly, a media center, an electric power station, a space experience hall and a landing field.[2][3] It has supported 5 launches including the KSLV-II launch in 2021, and will support SSLV launches in 2025.

History

Naro-1

The first launch, initially planned for August 19, 2009, was performed on August 25, 2009 using a Russo-South Korean Naro-1 rocket, but failed to reach the desired orbit. Another rocket launch from Naro was planned for May 2010, but delays pushed the launch to June. On June 10, 2010, this second attempt also ended in failure when the rocket lost communications 137 seconds after launch. The South Korean science minister Ahn Byung-man later told reporters that the rocket was believed to have exploded.

A third attempt was made on January 30, 2013 and finally succeeded in putting a satellite into orbit.

KSLV-II TLV

The TLV (Test Launch Vehicle) was the second vehicle to use the Naro Space Center. It was launched on a suborbital mission on November 28, 2018, having a mission objective of qualifying the KRE-075 engine which powers the KSLV-II. The launch was a success. The single-stage TLV rocket reached an altitude of 209 kilometers before splashing down into sea; the flight was 10 minutes long.

Nuri

On 21 October 2021 the Nuri rocket (KSLV-II) was launched on its maiden flight from Naro. The rocket reached the planned altitude but failed to put a dummy satellite payload into orbit due to a problem with the rocket's third stage. While South Korea says it intends to use Nuri to launch satellites exclusively, the test has also been viewed by some experts as part of the country's ongoing efforts to develop ballistic missile capabilities.[4] The second flight of Nuri on 21 June 2022 successfully reached orbit.

Facilities

LC-1 (LB-1)

LC-1, also called LB-1 for the pad itself, is the first pad constructed in the Naro Space Center. It supported 3 Naro-1 launches and the KSLV-II TLV launch. It will also support the SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) launches from 2025. It is located at 34.431803°N 127.536397°E / 34.431803; 127.536397 (LC-1).

LC-2 (LB-2)

LC-2, also called LB-2 for the pad itself, is the second pad in the Naro Space Center. It supported the first Nuri launch in 2021. Different from LC-1, which doesn't have an umbilical tower, LC-2 has a tower to support the KSLV-II. It is located at 34.431636°N 127.534411°E / 34.431636; 127.534411 (LC-2).

  • Naro-1 at LC-1
    Naro-1 at LC-1
  • Naro-1 at LC-1
    Naro-1 at LC-1
  • KSLV-II TLV at LC-1
    KSLV-II TLV at LC-1
  • Nuri at LC-2
    Nuri at LC-2
  • Nuri at LC-2
    Nuri at LC-2

See also

References
  1. Software glitch halts rocket launch - Yonhap News Agency
  2. South Korea Begins Construction Of New Space Center – Korean Information Service, SpaceDaily, August 12, 2003
  3. "Korea to enter space race in 2008", http://www.korea.net/News/News/NewsView.asp?serial_no=20080102014&part=107%7C, Ro Ji-woong Korea.net Staff Writer, 03 January, 2008, accessed October 28, 2008
  4. "South Korea launches first homegrown space rocket Nuri". BBC News. October 21, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
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