S. Korea sets date for 3rd rocket launch attempt

SEOUL -- South Korea will make a third attempt to launch its Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1), also known as Naro, on January 30, the science ministry said Thursday.

The vehicle, with a Russian-built first stage and a South Korean-developed second stage, is scheduled to take off from the Naro Space Center, 480 kilometers south of Seoul, on the afternoon of January 30, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said in a statement.

"After reviewing launch preparations and weather forecasts, it has been confirmed that the third launch of the Naro will be possible on January 30 as of now," the ministry said.

South Korea failed in its first two attempts to send a satellite into space using a domestically developed rocket in 2009 and 2010, and the most recent launch attempt has been delayed since October due to technical glitches.