S. Korea to launch solid-fuel space rocket postponed in June by year-end

South Korea intends to launch a solid-fuel space rocket by the end of this year, following its postponement in June due to safety concerns, according to the defense ministry. Originally planned for June 30 off the southern coast of Jeju Island, the launch was canceled due to detected issues in the final stages. The defense ministry aims to resume the launch within the current year, stating that they have completed a comprehensive inspection of technical aspects and other conditions.

They are currently conducting final preparations to ensure optimal launch conditions. However, the exact launch date has not been decided, as it will be determined based on weather conditions and the progress of preparations. If launched, it would represent the rocket's first test launch in a fully assembled four-stage vehicle. This would come after a series of trials conducted in 2022 and 2023, each evaluating partial three-stage configurations.