It is intended to generate 80kN of thrust and is designed to place the Earth observation satellite into its final orbit just a few hundred kilometres above the planet.

BBC: South Korea halts rocket launch

The country has plans for better satellite communications, broadcasting facilities, weather forecasting and Earth observation missions all of which will have a dual civilian and military role, but none of which need be manned.

ECONOMIST: China in space

The satellite is also expected to drop off two secondary "passengers" - an Earth observation spacecraft for Vietnam and a "nanosatellite" built by students in Estonia.

BBC: Bad weather postpones Europe's Vega rocket launch