South Korea has launched its first domestic launch vehicle, Korea space launch vehicle-1 (KSLV-1), into space. However, it failed to place its satellite into the designated orbit.

The first stage of the rocket separated after a few minutes into the launch and placed the 220lb science satellite in orbit.

Korean science and technology minister Ahn Byong-Man, however, was quoted by AFP as saying the satellite is not following the designated track.

“All aspects of the launch were normal, but the satellite exceeded its planned orbit and reached an altitude of 360km (225 miles),” he said.

Korea and Russia are carrying out a joint probe to investigate the causes of the error.

The KSLV-1 has been built by Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and by Russia’s Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Centre.

The launch is the seventh attempt by KARI to carry out the nation’s first domestic space rocket launch.