SEOUL: South Korea plans to make its third attempt to join the exclusive club of countries capable of placing a satellite in space on Friday with a rocket launch from the Naro Space Centre on the south coast.
Science Minister Lee Ju-Ho told reporters yesterday that the Korea Space Launch Vehicle (KSLV-I) would blast off as scheduled, barring any last-minute hitches or problems with weather conditions.
“In consideration of preparations and weather conditions, we have confirmed that the launch is possible on October 26,” Lee told the reporters.
A 3,000-tonne coastguard ship has left for international waters near the Philippines to track the launch, the ministry said, adding the rocket would be transferred to the launch pad tomorrow.
The ministry had previously set a five-day window for the launch ending October 31.
Chinese police rescue 10 Vietnamese sailors
Beijing: Chinese maritime policemen rescued 10 Vietnamese sailors in waters near the sea border between the two countries, a Chinese maritime official said. The Vietnamese sailors drifted to waters near the Beilun River estuary on two life rafts, after their vessel, loaded with more than 300 tonnes of rocks, sank in the Vietnamese waters, said the Chinese official.
They were rescued by maritime police of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China Daily reported. They were all well and returned to Vietnam on Sunday afternoon.
Agencies
