The South Korean Science Ministry said Friday that the country plans to launch the first rocket to put a satellite in orbit in late 2008. The ministry said Russia will provide help in technology to help South Korea's launch.
South Korea and Russia signed the technology safeguard agreement (TSA in October 2006. Before that, the two sides agreed on a space technology cooperation pact in September 2004.
South Korea's National Assembly has already ratified the TSA that allows close cooperation in the peaceful use of space technology. The bilateral agreement needs the approval by Russia'sDuma before it takes effect.
According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, if Russia ratifies the deal, full-fledged work can begin on the construction of two-stage Korea Space Launch Vehicle 1 (KSLV1), which will send a 100-kg multipurpose science satellite into a low orbit around the earth.
So far, South Korea has relied on foreign rockets to send all of its satellites into space.
