News Summaries for January 2

First South Korean Rocket Set for 2008 (Source: SpaceDaily.com)
South Korea plans to launch its first space rocket next year, becoming the world's ninth country to do so. A spaceport on the country's south coast is some 90 percent complete after construction began in late 2000 at a cost of $285 million. The rocket, named Korea Space Launch Vehicle, will put a small satellite weighing 100 kilograms (220 pounds) into orbit for scientific research and atmospheric surveys. South Korea began developing the two-stage rocket through a technology tie-up with Russia in 2004. The first stage is based on Russia's Angara rocket while the second stage is of South Korean origin. Between this year and 2010, South Korea plans to build or launch a total of nine satellites.

Alaska Spaceport Wins Defense Launch Funds (Source: DOD)
The Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation is being awarded a contract modification for Kodiak Launch Complex spaceport facilities and services in support of Missile Defense Agency target launches. This modification will increase the contract ceiling by $17,800,200 for a total estimated value of $87,420,596.

Turkey’s Military Satellite Program: A Model for Emerging Regional Powers (Source: Space Review)
Turkey’s air force is planning to spend at least $200 million to buy and launch an electro-optical reconnaissance satellite with a resolution of 80 centimeters. They hope to have it in orbit and operational by 2011. They are apparently not going to impose the onerous “local content requirements” that have recently bedeviled so many Turkish military procurement programs. This suggests that this is being treated as a priority and the Turkish military is not going to allow local industrial politics to get in the way of their need for broad, persistent, and sovereign regional observation.