May 21, 2013
South Korea on Monday (February 4) released video taken by a camera fixed to the second stage of its rocket carrying a satellite which was launched last week.
The rocket which blasted into space on Wednesday (January 30) put the scientific satellite successfully into orbit.
The handout video from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) showed the entire process of the rocket entering orbit and releasing the satellite.
The launch followed two failed attempts in 2009 and 2010 to launch a civilian rocket carrying a scientific satellite.
South Korea said the day after the launch the satellite had successfully made contact with the ground station.
The country's Satellite Technology Research Centre at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said the first communication contact was made at 3:27:12 a.m. on Thursday (January 31).
South Korea already has satellites in space which have been launched from other countries.
The launch came at a time of tension resulting from North Korea's announcement that it would carry out more rocket launches and nuclear test after it was censured by the United Nations Security Council over the launch of a rocket in December.
The reclusive country declared a boycott of all dialogue aimed at ending its nuclear program.
