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S. Korea unveils space rocket engine for test-launch

September 6, 2018

GOHEUNG, South Korea, Sept 6 (Yonhap) — South Korea’s aerospace institute showcased its locally developed booster engine on Thursday, part of a long-term effort to produce the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-2 (KSLV-2), a three-stage indigenous rocket.

The rocket, carrying a locally made 75-ton engine, is set to be launched on Oct. 25 from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) said.

If successful, four of the indigenous thrust engines will be used on the first stage and one on the second stage of the KSLV-2, KARI said. The whole rocket is scheduled to blast into space in 2021.

“A successful test-launch next month will help the development of the KSLV-2 and researchers will gain confidence in the process,” said Ok Ho-nam, a KARI official in charge of the launch.

The KSLV-2 rocket is to be South Korea’s first locally designed and built space vehicle. It will be used to place unmanned satellites into Earth orbit and for other commercial purposes, KARI said.

This photo provided by the Ministry of Science and ICT shows South Korea’s homegrown single-stage rocket carrying a locally made 75-ton engine that will be used on the future Korea Space Launch Vehicle-2 (KSLV-2).