Space center to be built in Kohung

A satellite launching based will be set up in Oenarodo, Kohung-gun, South Cholla Province by 2005, minister of Science and Technology Seo Jung-Uck said Tuesday.

He added that the government selected the neighboring region of Yenaeri, Pongnae-myon (Oenarodo) as the site for a space center. Since the creation of the space center construction consultation committee in 1999, it has conducted investigations of 11 proposed regions in South Kyongsang province, South Cholla Province and Cheju Island.

The region surrounding Oenarodo earned high marks because of the low possibility that rocket launches would have a negative impact on the neighboring area. It was also determined that rockets would be unlikely to violate the air space of neighboring countries and that it would be easy to secure the necessary space as 70% of the region consists of national or public land, Minister Seo said.

The ministry will pour 130 billion won by 2004 into construction of the space center on a 1.5 million pyong land site. This includes 50,000 pyong for facilities. After holding a mock launch in the first half of 2005, the government plans to launch the No. 2 Science Satellite, with a weight of 100kg, in the latter half of that year using a Korean-developed launch pad. The satellite will reach an altitude of 700km.

Shin Dong-Ho dongho@donga.com