Korea Aerospace Research Institute
Encyclopedia
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) is the aeronautics and space agency of South Korea
. Its main laboratories are located in Daejeon
, in the Daedeok Science Town
. Current projects include the KSLV
launcher. Past projects include the 1999 Arirang-1
satellite
. The agency was founded in 1989. Prior to South Korea's entry into the IAE
in 1992, it focused primarily on aerospace technology.
first gained experience with missiles provided by the United States
to counter North Korea
.
KARI began in 1990 to develop its own rockets. It produced the KSR-I and KSR-II, one and two-stage rockets in the early 1990s.
In December 1997 it began development of a LOX
/kerosene
rocket engine. KARI wished to develop satellite launch capability. A test launch of the KSR-III took place in 2002.
KARI had a 2003 budget of 156.4 billion won
($150 million USD).
, and cooperation began in 2004. KARI is now developing the Korea Space Launch Vehicle
(also known as Naro), whose first-stage is based on the Angara rocket
. First launch of the KSLV is expected in 2009. Russia is also helping to build the Korea Space Center
, a spaceport
in Goheung County
.
A deal was also struck on October 24, 2005 to send a Korean into space aboard a Russian Soyuz
spaceflight. Through the Korean Astronaut Program
, Russia has trained two South Koreans and has sent one (Yi So-yeon
) to the International Space Station in 2008.
s, high-altitude airship
s, and a next-generation multi-purpose helicopter
project. In addition, several satellites, including the KOMPSAT (also known as Arirang) Seriese, the COMS (Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite), and the STSAT
(Science and Technology Satellite), are developed, operated, or under development by KARI.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. Its main laboratories are located in Daejeon
Daejeon
Daejeon is South Korea's fifth largest metropolis and the provincial capital of Chungnam. Located in the center of the country, Daejeon had a population of over 1.5 million in 2010. It is at the crossroads of Gyeongbu railway, Honam railway, Gyeongbu Expressway, and Honam Expressway. Within the...
, in the Daedeok Science Town
Daedeok Science Town
Daedeok Innopolis, formerly known as Daedeok Science Town, is the research and development district in the Yuseong-gu district in Daejeon, South Korea. Daedeok Innopolis grew out of the research cluster established by President Park Chunghee in 1973 with the opening of the KAIST. Over 20 major...
. Current projects include the KSLV
Korea Space Launch Vehicle
The Naro-1, previously designated Korea Space Launch Vehicle or KSLV, is South Korea's first carrier rocket, which made its maiden flight on 25 August 2009. It is built by KARI, the national space agency of South Korea, and Korean Air, with the first stage provided by Khrunichev...
launcher. Past projects include the 1999 Arirang-1
Arirang-1
Arirang-1 or Arirang I is an unmanned artificial satellite created by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and launched by a US rocket on December 21, 1999. This was the first satellite built primarily by South Korean engineers, although previous foreign-built satellites had been launched by...
satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
. The agency was founded in 1989. Prior to South Korea's entry into the IAE
IAE
IAE may refer to:*International Aero Engines*Institute of Australian Education Pty Ltd IAE*IAE Universidad Austral, the Management and Business School of the Universidad Austral...
in 1992, it focused primarily on aerospace technology.
Background
South KoreaSouth Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
first gained experience with missiles provided by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to counter North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
.
KARI began in 1990 to develop its own rockets. It produced the KSR-I and KSR-II, one and two-stage rockets in the early 1990s.
In December 1997 it began development of a LOX
Liquid oxygen
Liquid oxygen — abbreviated LOx, LOX or Lox in the aerospace, submarine and gas industries — is one of the physical forms of elemental oxygen.-Physical properties:...
/kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
rocket engine. KARI wished to develop satellite launch capability. A test launch of the KSR-III took place in 2002.
KARI had a 2003 budget of 156.4 billion won
South Korean won
The won is the currency of South Korea. A single won is divided into 100 jeon, the monetary subunit. The jeon is no longer used for everyday transactions, and appears only in foreign exchange rates...
($150 million USD).
Current launch capability development
South Korea decided to speed up development by joining with RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and cooperation began in 2004. KARI is now developing the Korea Space Launch Vehicle
Korea Space Launch Vehicle
The Naro-1, previously designated Korea Space Launch Vehicle or KSLV, is South Korea's first carrier rocket, which made its maiden flight on 25 August 2009. It is built by KARI, the national space agency of South Korea, and Korean Air, with the first stage provided by Khrunichev...
(also known as Naro), whose first-stage is based on the Angara rocket
Angara rocket
The Angara rocket family is a family of space-launch vehicles currently under development by the Moscow-based Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center...
. First launch of the KSLV is expected in 2009. Russia is also helping to build the Korea Space Center
Korea Space Center
Naro Space Center is a South Korean spaceport in Goheung County, South Jeolla operated by the state-run Korea Aerospace Research Institute..The spaceport is located about south of Seoul...
, a spaceport
Spaceport
A spaceport or cosmodrome is a site for launching spacecraft, by analogy with seaport for ships or airport for aircraft. The word spaceport, and even more so cosmodrome, has traditionally been used for sites capable of launching spacecraft into orbit around Earth or on interplanetary trajectories...
in Goheung County
Goheung County
Goheung County is a county in Jeollanam-do Province, South Korea.-Naro Space Center:The Naro Space Center was completed during 2008 in southern Goheung and is operated by the state-run Korea Aerospace Research Institute...
.
A deal was also struck on October 24, 2005 to send a Korean into space aboard a Russian Soyuz
Soyuz spacecraft
Soyuz , Union) is a series of spacecraft initially designed for the Soviet space programme by the Korolyov Design Bureau in the 1960s, and still in service today...
spaceflight. Through the Korean Astronaut Program
Korean Astronaut Program
The Korean Astronaut Program was an initiative by the South Korean government to send the first Korean into space via the Russian space program.-Program overview:...
, Russia has trained two South Koreans and has sent one (Yi So-yeon
Yi So-yeon
Yi So-yeon is a South Korean scientist and Ph.D. graduate of KAIST . On April 8, 2008, she became the first Korean and the second Asian woman to fly in space, after Chiaki Mukai.-Biography:Yi So-yeon was born to father Yi Gil-soo...
) to the International Space Station in 2008.
Aerospace developments
KARI is also developing Unmanned Aerial VehicleUnmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
s, high-altitude airship
High-altitude airship
The United States Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency contracted Lockheed Martin to construct a high-altitude airship to enhance its Ballistic Missile Defense System ....
s, and a next-generation multi-purpose helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
project. In addition, several satellites, including the KOMPSAT (also known as Arirang) Seriese, the COMS (Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite), and the STSAT
STSAT-2A
STSAT-2A was a satellite launched by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute , the national space agency of South Korea, from the Naro Space Center in Goheung County, South Jeolla using the Naro-1 rocket.The satellite carried a Lyman- alpha Imaging Solar Telescope as well as Satellite laser...
(Science and Technology Satellite), are developed, operated, or under development by KARI.
See also
- Korean Astronaut ProgramKorean Astronaut ProgramThe Korean Astronaut Program was an initiative by the South Korean government to send the first Korean into space via the Russian space program.-Program overview:...
- List of aircraft manufacturers
- List of Korea-related topics
- Government of South KoreaGovernment of South KoreaThe Government of South Korea is divided into executive, judicial, and legislative branches. The executive and judicial branches operate primarily at the national level, although various ministries in the executive branch also carry out local functions. Local governments are semi-autonomous, and...
External links
- KARI official website (Korean / English)
- South Korean space projects from Encyclopedia AstronauticaEncyclopedia AstronauticaThe Encyclopedia Astronautica is a reference web site on space travel. A comprehensive catalog of vehicles, technology, astronauts, and flights, it includes information from most countries that have had an active rocket research program, from Robert Goddard to the NASA Space shuttle to the Soviet...
- KSLV http://www.kslv.or.kr/