Hyundai To Build First South Korea Launch Pad
Seoul (AFP) Feb 27, 2007 Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world's largest shipbuilder, said Tuesday it had won an order to build South Korea's first space rocket launch pad. The contract from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute calls for a launch platform and related facilities at the Naro Space Center on a southern island off the town of Goheung. South Korea plans to launch a 100-kilogram (220 pound) satellite into orbit from Naro in October 2008. Construction of the space centre will be completed early next year. Following completion of the project, South Korea will become the world's ninth nation capable of launching a satellite with its own technology. So far it has relied on centres in other countries to send its satellites into orbit. Financial terms were not given but Hyundai Heavy said it would build launch facilities, fuelling systems and a control room. The launch pad capable of accommodating two rockets will help South Korea become a global space power, a company official said. "Based on Russian data, we have acquired the know-how of rocket launching," he said. South Korea also plans to send its first citizen into space in April next year aboard a Russian spacecraft.
Source: Agence France-Presse Related Links Naro Space Centre Launch Pad at Space-Travel.com Launch Pad at Space-Travel.com
Construction Of Soyuz Launch Base In French Guiana Begins Kourou, French Guiana (SPX) Feb 27, 2007 The construction site of the Soyuz launch base in French Guiana was officially opened today by Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA Director General, Yannick d'Escatha, President of CNES, Jean-Yves Le Gall, Director General of Arianespace, and Anatoly Perminov, Head of Roscosmos. The ceremony took place in the presence of many French authorities and representatives of all the European and Russian entities contributing to the startup of the project. |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement |