Source: Global Times New Media
According to Yonhap News Agency reported on March 30, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense announced that South Korea successfully test-fired a solid-fuel space rocket on the 30th.
Report screenshot
According to the South Korean Ministry of National Defense, the South Korean Institute of Defense Research conducted the first such test launch at the Taean County test site 150 kilometers southwest of Seoul to confirm the capabilities of a self-produced space launch vehicle.
South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook and senior military officials attended the event, which the South Korean Defense Ministry said was an "important milestone" in enhancing South Korea's independent space-based reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities.
South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense also said, “(South Korea) regards space as a core area that has a significant impact on national security, and will strengthen its space defense capabilities as soon as possible based on inter-military cooperation.”
The ministry also said that this test launch Designed to verify the performance of the launcher, including technologies such as fairing separation and upper stage attitude control, this test launch will help South Korea independently launch small military reconnaissance satellites. Solid-fuel spacecraft are generally simpler in structure and cheaper to launch than liquid-fuel spacecraft.
South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said it plans to launch an actual satellite mounted on a rocket in the future after completing additional development procedures. In addition, the National Defense Science Institute and the Aerospace Research Institute are also collaborating to explore the development of a new rocket that combines liquid and solid fuel engines to improve cost efficiency and the ability to carry heavier payloads.
Korean media pointed out that in the past, South Korea's development of solid fuel launch vehicles was restricted by the "South Korea-US Missile Guidelines." However, after the South Korea-US summit meeting in May last year relaxed the restrictions on South Korea, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense and the National Defense Science Institute were able to step up development.
Previously, South Korea also successfully conducted a combustion test of the solid propellant engine for space rockets in July last year.
