Reports: South Korea loses communications with rocket

Reports: SKorea loses communications with rocket

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean media say communications with a rocket launched by the country has been lost following liftoff.

The rocket is carrying a satellite meant to study climate change. It was launched Thursday, a day after the ambitious project was delayed due to malfunctioning firefighting equipment.

Yonhap news agency and Cable news channel YTN are reporting that communications with the rocket has been lost, without elaborating.

South Korean officials were not immediately available for comment.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea has launched a rocket carrying a satellite meant to study climate change a day after the ambitious project was delayed due to malfunctioning firefighting equipment.

Cable news channel YTN on Thursday showed the two-stage Naro rocket loaded with an observation satellite flying toward the sky after liftoff.

On Wednesday, the launch was suspended after fire retardant suddenly sprayed from three nozzles set up near the launch pad to extinguish any possible blaze accompanying liftoff.

The blastoff at the coastal Naro space center in Goheung, 290 miles (465 kilometers) south of Seoul, is the country’s second launch of a rocket from its own territory.