China News Service, December 30 (Xinhua) According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's Ministry of National Defense stated on the 30th that South Korea's self-developed solid-fuel carrier rocket was successfully tested.
According to reports, this is only 9 months after the successful booster test of a solid-fuel launch vehicle in March this year.
In July last year, the solid fuel engine ignition test was successful.
Previously, South Korea's development of solid-fuel launch vehicles was constrained by the "Korea-US Missile Guidelines", but after the South Korea-US summit meeting in May last year released South Korea's constraints, the Ministry of National Defense and the Institute of Defense Science (ADD) were able to step up development.
The test launch in March this year tested technologies such as large solid boosters, fairing separation, inter-stage separation, and upper-stage attitude control. It is understood that the test that day tested other new technologies.
It is reported that solid-fuel engines are used in launch vehicles capable of sending small satellites and ultra-small satellites into low-earth orbits. They are cheaper than liquid-fuel engines, and have a simpler structure and are easier to produce.
Unlike liquid fuel, solid fuel can be injected in advance, so solid fuel launch vehicles have the advantage of being able to launch quickly.
In addition, before the South Korean Ministry of National Defense announced the news, many people from all over the country reported seeing unidentified flying objects.
The South Korean Ministry of National Defense stated that measures related to airspace and maritime security were taken before the rocket test, but due to military security issues, it was impossible to disclose information to all citizens in advance.