There had also been concerns that strong winds and other conditions would pose challenges for a successful launch. The launch, which was observed by South Korean President Moon Jae-in, was delayed by an hour because engineers needed more time to examine the rocket's valves.
Live footage showed the 154 foot rocket soaring into the air with bright yellow flames shooting out of its engines following blastoff at Naro Space Center, the country's lone spaceport, on a small island off its southern coast. It wasn't immediately clear whether the three-stage Nuri rocket succeeded in delivering a dummy payload – a 1.5-ton block of stainless steel and aluminum – into orbit 372 to 497 miles above Earth. SEOUL, South Korea - South Korea test launched its first domestically produced space rocket on Thursday in what officials describe as an important step in the country's pursuit of a satellite launch program. Officials described it as an important step in the country's pursuit of a satellite launch program.
The Nuri rocket, South Korea's first domestically produced space rocket, lifts off from a launch pad at the Naro Space Center in Goheung.
