The Korea Space Center (한국우주센터) or Oinarodo Space Center (외나로도우주센터 - 外羅老島宇宙센터) is Korea's first spaceport, located on the island of Oinaro-do in the county of Goheung in the province of Jeollanam-do. The centre is currently under construction and will be finished within the year 2006, with the first rockets to take off starting in 2007. Other parts of the centre however will continue to be built and expanded upon, eventually giving an ability to launch larger and heavier rockets, and the final construction is expected to be completed in 2015.
[edit] Location and introduction
The centre is located on the island in the town of Bongnae-myeon (봉래면, 蓬萊面).
Investigations into a practical location for a space centre began in 1999, and in January 2001 the location was decided upon. After a year's worth of further investigation into the land in the area, construction finally began in 2002. The space centre finally began to make headlines in 2003 when it was announced with further fanfare to the press. The total area reserved amounted to 1.5 million pyeong, with 80,000 of those reserved for thecentre itself.
Once the centre is complete, Korea will become the 13th nation to have the ability to launch its own rockets into orbit. One of the reasons for its construction was the high cost of having to rely on other nations when launching satellites (taking into account the exchange rate as well when paying in foreign currency), and to remove the detrimental effect this had on the aerospace industry in not being able to choose its own launch times and locations.
The first launch in 2007 will be a 100 kg satellite. Estimated cost in 2003 was 150 billion won ($126.45 million).
[edit] Tourism
As construction is nearing completion, space-related events have begun in the area. From July 28th to August 1st there will be a Goheung Space and Aerospace Festival held in the area, with the theme being an "Exciting space adventure taken with the family" (가족과 함께 떠나는 신나는 우주여행). During this time there will be a number of events such as a space development history museum, exhibition, solar system model, artificial satellite model exhibition, model rocket exhibition, finding out one's body weight on Mars, etc. No mention is made of English service.
- Contact: Goheung Culture Tourism Division (고흥군 문화관광과) - 061)830-5305.
[edit] External links
