The South Korean military canceled its fourth test launch of a solid-fuel space launch vehicle, which was scheduled for the afternoon of June 30 near Jeju Island.
The Ministry of National Defense stated, "The test launch of the solid-fuel space launch vehicle planned for today was halted due to the discovery of some issues during final preparations, considering safety. The launch was originally set for around 2 p.m. today."
The ministry added, "The schedule for a rescheduled launch will be announced later." It was reported that the region is expected to experience the onset of monsoon rains starting today, suggesting that the test launch may be postponed for some time.
The solid-fuel launch vehicle uses solid propellant instead of liquid fuel. Solid-fuel vehicles are simpler in structure, easier to store and handle, and can be prepared for launch within seven days, allowing for rapid deployment. They also tend to be less expensive than liquid-fuel rockets.
Since the lifting of restrictions on solid-fuel propulsion for space launch vehicles in May 2021, following the removal of the South Korea-U.S. missile guidelines, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has been leading the development of this technology.
DAPA conducted the first and second test flights of the test vehicle on March 30 and December 30, 2022, at the DAPA comprehensive test site. The third test, using the second test vehicle, took place on December 4, 2023, off the coast of Jeju. All three test launches have been successful.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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