Nuri space rocket ready for third launch

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Mon, October 2, 2023 | 17:16

Tech

Nuri space rocket ready for third launch

Posted : 2023-05-23 16:57

Updated : 2023-05-24 14:52

The Nuri space rocket is set up at a launch pad at Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, Tuesday. Courtesy of Korea Aerospace Research Institute

Locally-developed launch vehicle aims to carry satellites into space

By Baek Byung-yeul

The Nuri space rocket was placed on a launch pad at Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province on Tuesday, a day ahead of its third launch, which will carry actual satellites into space, according to the science ministry and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).

After leaving the assembly building in the morning, Nuri, also known as the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-II and the first locally-developed rocket, was transported by an unmanned vehicle and the process of placing it on the launch pad was completed.

Preparatory work for the launch was carried out in the afternoon, including the attachment of umbilical connectors, cables for fuel supply, propellants and air tightness checks.

On Wednesday morning, the Ministry of Science and ICT and KARI will hold a meeting to review technical preparations, weather conditions and the possibility of collisions with space objects. In the afternoon, they will hold another meeting to check weather conditions and launch preparations and finalize the launch time. The Nuri is scheduled to be launched at 6:24 p.m.

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This photo shows the Nuri space rocket being raised at a launch pad at Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, Tuesday. Courtesy of Korea Aerospace Research Institute

The procedures and specifications of the third launch are not too different from the successful second launch of the Nuri last year, KARI said. As long as there are no unfavorable factors, such as weather conditions, it is highly likely that the third launch will be successful.

However, what is most notable is that this will be the first attempt to launch working satellites.

In its second launch in June, 2022, the Nuri's goal was to put a 1500-kilogram dummy satellite and a performance verification satellite into a low orbit of 700 kilometers above the Earth. But this time, the goal is to put 500-kilogram satellites into orbit 550 kilometers above the Earth.

The Nuri space rocket is raised at a launch pad at Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, Tuesday, a day before its launch. Courtesy of Korea Aerospace Research Institute

In its third launch, the Nuri will carry eight satellites, including the main payload, which is a next-generation small satellite, developed by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). If it is successfully launched, the satellite will conduct observations for two years using a synthetic aperture radar (SAR).

It will also carry four microsatellites codenamed SNIPE, developed by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, and three cube satellites developed by private companies. The Nuri will launch the main payload first, followed by the remaining seven at 20-second intervals.

The satellites will carry out scientific missions, such as ground environment observation, space weather observation, space radiation measurements and space environment verification of domestic space technology.

The third launch of the Nuri is also significant in that it is the first time a local private company, Hanwha Aerospace, participated in a launch. In the third launch, the company managed the production and cooperated with KARI to prepare for the launch.

baekby@koreatimes.co.kr