South Korea's first space rocket lifted off Tuesday but failed to put a satellite in the correct orbit prompting officials to declare the mission partially successful.

The Korea Space Launch Vehicle 1 blasted off at the Naro Space Center at 5 p.m. Science and technology minister Ahn Byong-Man later told reporters the 220-pound home-made scientific research satellite was In the wrong orbit 225 miles above Earth.

The Russian-made first stage rocket separated five minutes after liftoff but the satellite was apparently launched late and released beyond 188 miles, the designated orbit.

Korea Aerospace Research Institute head Lee Joo-Jin admitted to reporters that the agency is not sure if it would be able to communicate with the satellite, which cannot move on its own to change orbit.