South Korea's Nuri rocket launches with 13 satellites in pivotal space mission

A South Korean Nuri rocket lifted off from the Naro Space Center in Goheung at 1:13 a.m. on Thursday. The launch marked the fourth mission for the 200-ton rocket, which was assembled and prepared by Hanwha Aerospace. This mission aims to deploy 13 satellites into a 600-kilometre orbit for tasks such as weather observation and medical research. The launch was originally scheduled for 12:55 a.m. but faced an 18-minute delay. The rocket’s payload of 1,040 kilograms is more than double the weight carried during its third mission in May 2023.

Nuri’s first flight in October 2021 failed to place a dummy satellite into orbit. However, subsequent launches in June 2022 and May 2023 succeeded. A key moment for this mission will be the separation of the final CubeSat at 15 minutes and 7 seconds after liftoff.

Hanwha Aerospace oversaw the entire pre-launch process, making this the first time a private company in South Korea has managed such preparations. Final confirmation of the mission’s success is expected one hour and 20 minutes after launch. The satellites will support various missions, including space-environment monitoring. The successful deployment will confirm the rocket’s reliability and the growing role of private companies in South Korea’s space programme. The mission also demonstrates the country’s advancing capabilities in satellite technology.