South Korea launches satellite but fails to hit correct orbit

South Korea's first space rocket blasted off yesterday, less than a week after a launch was aborted at the last minute, but it failed to place a satellite into the designated orbit.

The launch, dubbed a partial success by officials, came less than five months after nuclear-armed rival North Korea incurred international anger by firing its own long-range rocket.

Seoul's Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 lifted off on schedule at 0800 GMT atop a tail of flame, to the jubilation of officials and guests at the Naro Space Centre.

The Russian-made first stage separated successfully less than five minutes later and the South Korean-built 100-kilogram scientific research satellite was then placed into earth orbit.

But science and technology minister Ahn Byong-Man said it was not following the designated track.