Countdown to Launch on April 8, 2008

A Russian Soyuz spacecraft with the first Korean astronaut on board will be launched at 8 p.m. on April 8, 2008.

Goh San (31), who was chosen as an astronaut, and Lee So-yeon (29), Goh’s substitute astronaut, answered questions from Korean correspondents in Moscow on November 26 (local time). The Korean astronauts will return to Earth on April 19, 2008.

The Russian Federal Space Agency finished making the Soyuz spacecraft that Korean astronauts will be on board and the Korean government was informed of the launch time.

Goh is scheduled to visit the International Space Station (ISS) with Russian cosmonauts, Sergey Volkov (captain) and Oleg Kononenko (space flight engineer), for 12 days.

If Goh and his party cannot go on board, Lee will travel to space with Maksim Surayev (captain) and Oleg Skripochka (space flight engineer).

The Koreans will go to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan 10-15 days before their scheduled liftoff after receiving a final physical examination in early 2008. The following is an interview session with both astronauts.

-What is your feeling after the return date was announced?

“I feel like the countdown already started. I was excited when I got into the spaceship with the Russians several days ago.” (Goh)

-Are you under stress?

“I do not worry a lot. I had hoped that the spacecraft would be launched earlier as I am looking forward to it. (Lee)

“I am the first Korean to go, so I hope I will perform well. That makes me feel like I have a great responsibility. I think I should work harder. I am taking care of the data for my experiments in space meticulously.” (Goh)

-I heard that calcium loss occurs in space.

“That is why astronauts are required to exercise two hours on a daily basis. They are also required to consume lots of dairy products. This time, we will also be able to have sterilized and irradiated kimchi in the spaceship. This will help develop foods for space travel. (Goh)

-Do you get along with the Russian cosmonauts who will go with you?

“I thought it a little unfair to have a different role from them in the space shuttle at first. I, however, learned later that they have their own schedules and are also under enormous stress. Now, we are working together and allowing some of our responsibilities to overlap. (Lee)

-What do you think of Korea’s space industry?

“I think Korea does not lag far behind in the space industry, but it is difficult to evaluate the current situation because there are many untried fields. I recognize that there should be more investment.” (Goh)

“Korea should pioneer a “blue ocean" in which Korea can have the upper hand. We are the frontrunners. We have to do our best so that our country is able to catch up with the developed countries.” (Lee)

viyonz@donga.com