On October 7th, South Korea successfully launched its fifth Nuri rocket, reaffirming the nation’s growing space capabilities. It was also the first Nuri launch to lift off exactly on schedule, without any postponement.

The rocket took off from the Naro Space Center in Goheung at 12:25 p.m. About 13 minutes later, at an altitude of roughly 575 kilometers, it began deploying 15 satellites, the most it has ever carried. All but one were successfully released.

Five were primary satellites designed to work as a group. To prevent collisions, the rocket rotated between each deployment, releasing them one by one at intervals of 35 to 40 seconds.

Their mission is to monitor the Korean Peninsula to support national security and disaster response efforts. Five more primary satellites will follow on the sixth launch next year, and all ten together will photograph the peninsula at least three times a day.

The remaining ten satellites on board the fifth rocket were CubeSats, nine of which were successfully released and will carry out a range of experiments. These include studying a dementia drug ingredient, testing optical communication, and measuring space radiation.

However, one CubeSat did not separate even though the release signal was sent, and further investigation is needed. Because the main mission succeeded, the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA)* declared the launch a success.

Nuri failed to place its payload into orbit in 2021, but it has succeeded four times in a row since 2022, bringing its overall success rate to 80 percent.

Hanwha Aerospace, a private company, led production of the rocket for the second time, and more private-sector staff took part in preparations than before. The government plans to launch a Nuri rocket at least once a year through 2032, gradually shifting to commercial launch services.

Administrator of KASA Oh Tae-seok said Nuri’s reliability has increased even further.

* Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) 우주항공청