The launch of Rocket Lab's Electron rocket carrying a microsatellite cluster verifier has been postponed.
Korea AeroSpace Administration said on the 11th in a notice that "the launch of the microsatellite cluster verifier scheduled for today has been postponed," adding, "We will announce the launch schedule later."
The verifier slated for launch is a satellite intended to perform final on-orbit verification of the cluster satellite system technology—11 satellites in total—being developed for precision monitoring of the Korean Peninsula.
The verifier was initially set to lift off at 9:55 a.m. (1:45 p.m. local time) from the Mahia launch complex in New Zealand aboard Rocket Lab's Electron rocket, operated by the U.S. space corporations.
Electron, carrying the verifier, stood on the pad and began launch preparations. However, the countdown stopped with 5 minutes 43 seconds remaining. The team then delayed the launch time by 26 minutes and resumed the countdown, but it was halted again with 8 minutes 7 seconds left. As launch within the available window became impossible, Rocket Lab ultimately declared a scrub.
Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) is checking the cause of the delay. After the scrub, Rocket Lab also posted on its X account (formerly Twitter) that it "is standing down from today's launch attempt to assess sensor data."