Why did Oh Tae-seok say the Nuri launch is a technical challenge?

He said the main challenge is deploying all 15 satellites from the launch vehicle with precision and placing each one into its designated orbit. He added that the ability to send different satellites into different orbits is important for commercial launch services.

Where and when is the fifth Nuri launch scheduled?

The launch is set for Oct. 7 at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, about 473 kilometers south of Seoul. Oh Tae-seok said preparations were proceeding without any problems so far.

Space agency chief says preparations for 5th Nuri launch on track

Q: What is the fifth Nuri launch carrying on Oct. 7?

The Nuri rocket will carry 15 satellites in total. The payload includes five NEONSAT satellites for the country’s first domestically launched microsatellite constellation and 10 CubeSats as secondary payloads.

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Summary

Korea AeroSpace Administration chief Oh Tae-seok said Wednesday that preparations for the fifth launch of the homegrown Nuri rocket are on track ahead of next week’s launch in Goheung. The rocket is scheduled for Oct. 7 at the Naro Space Center. It will carry 15 satellites, including five NEONSAT satellites for the country’s first domestically launched microsatellite constellation and 10 CubeSats.

Key Facts

Oh Tae-seok made the remarks during a meeting with reporters ahead of the Oct. 7 launch.
The launch is scheduled at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, about 473 kilometers south of Seoul.
The Nuri will carry five New-space Earth Observation Satellite Constellations for National Safety satellites as the primary payload and 10 CubeSats as secondary payloads.
Oh said a key challenge is precisely deploying all 15 satellites and placing them into their designated orbits.
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute released a video showing assembly of the rocket’s three stages at the Naro Space Center on Tuesday.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 30, 2026 12:05 pm KST

Oh Tae-seok, administrator of the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), speaks during a media debate session in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

The chief of Korea's space agency said Wednesday preparations for the fifth launch of the homegrown Nuri rocket are proceeding as planned ahead of the launch next week.

Oh Tae-seok, administrator of the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), made the remarks during a meeting with reporters ahead of the launch scheduled for Oct. 7 at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, about 473 kilometers south of Seoul.

"Preparations have been proceeding without any problems so far," Oh said.

The Nuri rocket will carry 15 satellites, including five satellites that will form part of the country's first domestically launched microsatellite constellation.

The payload consists of five New-space Earth Observation Satellite Constellations for National Safety (NEONSAT) as the primary payload and 10 CubeSats as secondary payloads.

Oh stressed that a key challenge will be precisely deploying all 15 satellites from the launch vehicle and placing them into their designated orbits.

"The ability to launch different satellites into different orbits is a key capability for commercial launch services, so we need to build up expertise in this area," he said.

Earlier in the day, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute released a video showing the assembly of the rocket's three stages at the Naro Space Center on Tuesday.

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