South Korea is set to launch a locally-developed rocket in 2021...and as preparation, it will test a booster engine that will be a part of the rocket in the coming weeks. <br />Cho Sung-min reports. <br /> The Korea Aerospace Research Institute revealed a new rocket booster engine, slated to be test-launched in October.<br />The unveiled engine is nearly 26 meters high and three meters wide,...and it has been designed to take up more than half the total length of a domestic-built carrier rocket dubbed Nuri.<br /> Nuri is a three-stage rocket developed entirely with homegrown technology, and it will serve to launch a 1.5-ton satellite into the Earth's orbit in 2021.<br /><br />Researchers say the primary mission of the upcoming test is to inspect the engine's performance level.<br /><br /> "We are looking at shooting a 75-ton engine into outer space. That means we want to first and foremost check out the engine power,...because that is one of the factors that determines whether a rocket launch is successful or not." <br /><br /> According to the team, the booster has fully combusted for one-hundred-fifty-four seconds in an engine test conducted in July.<br />That is more than ten seconds longer than what the team considers as a successful run.<br /><br />Industry experts say, once the test launch succeeds, the result could benefit several fields related to space engineering.<br /><br /> "When the test turns out successful, we expect the booster technology to be particularly helpful in the military department."<br /> <br /> The booster engine is set to be launched on October 25th from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do Province...and if the test is successful, a total of five booster engines will be used in the first and second stage to thrust out Nuri in 2021. <br />Cho Sung-min, arirang news. <br />
