KSLV

KSLV (Korean Space Launch Vehicle) is a Russian/South Korea rocket developed to launch the first earth orbiting satellite from South Korea proper.  KSLV cost about $410 million to develop, including the creation of a new launch site.  If successful, it would make South Korea the tenth nation to launch a satellite from its own soil.   

The KSLV program began in October 2004, when Russia and South Korea signed a bi-lateral inter-governmental agreement that called for joint development of KSLV-1 and of the Naro launch site. 

The first two-stage KSLV version, called KSLV-1 or Naro 1 ("Naro ho"), consists of an Angara-derived kerosene/LOX first stage, developed by Russia's Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, topped by a small solid fuel second stage developed by South Korea's Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).  KSLV-1 stands 33 meters, is 2.9 meters in diameter, and weighs 140 tonnes.  Its 28.5 meter tall first stage, powered by an Energomash RD-151 engine, will produce 170 tonnes of thrust.  The approximately 2.4 meter long, 1 meter diameter second stage will produce 8 tonnes of thrust.

KSLV-1 will only be able to lift 100 kg to low earth orbit (LEO) from its new Naro Space Center launch site.  Naro is located on Oeraro-do, an island at the southern tip of the Korean peninsula.  Russia's KBTM developed the KSLV-1 launch systems, which include a wheeled horizontal transporter that drives the assembled missile to a fixed erector system at the pad only two days prior to launch.  Autocoupler systems similar to those used by Zenit are employed to simplify vehicle set up on the pad.  Construction began at Naro in 2003.  The Center includes the launch pad, a launch control building, a vehicle assembly building, and test stands.

RD-151 is believed to be a lower-pressure version of the RD-191 engine planned to power Russia's Angara first stage.  RD-191 is expected to produce 196 tonnes of thrust at liftoff, 15% more than RD-151.

The KARI second stage consists of a solid motor attached beneath an approximately 2 meter diameter structure that houses guidance and flight control equipment.   The stage is not spin stabilized.  Instead, it is fitted with 3-axis control that allows it to coast if needed.  Control is provided by reaction control thrusters.  KARI developed not only the second stage motor, but also the flight avionics and the payload fairing.  The second stage and payload fairing combined length is 7.75 meters.  KARI delivered its initial second stage and payload fairing set to Naro in April 2008.    

Khrunichev delivered a ground test first stage vehicle in June 2008, which was used to certify the new launch site equipment during tests that lasted until December 2008.  The company shipped its first flight unit to Naro in June, 2009.  A qualification or certification test firing of a similar KSLV-1 booster engine was performed near Moscow on July 30, 2009.   

An upgraded KSLV-2 version is projected for future development.   KSLV-2 would lift 1.5 tonnes to LEO, implying use of a heavier, possibly liquid fueled, second stage.  The upgraded rocket would not fly until 2017 at the earliest.

Russia's Angara, named after a fast-flowing 1,800 km long Siberian river, is not expected to fly until 2011 or 2012. 
 

Vehicle Configurations

Vehicle Components

References

http://www.kslv.or.kr
http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=1&nid=363
"Angara User's Guide", International Launch Services, 2002

Last Update: August 14, 2009
by:  Ed Kyle