Goheung:The Nuri space rocket successfully launched from the Naro Space Center, deploying five NEONSAT microsatellites, signaling a significant step in South Korea's efforts to establish its first domestic satellite constellation and increase private-sector involvement in space development.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the rocket's fifth mission also involved deploying nine CubeSats developed by South Korean research institutions, universities, and companies. However, a tenth CubeSat failed to separate from the rocket. This mission marks Nuri's fourth consecutive successful launch, raising its success rate from 75 percent to 80 percent since its initial failure in 2021.
The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) Administrator, Oh Tae-seok, highlighted the successful deployment as proof of South Korea's advanced space transportation capabilities. This mission focused on linking Nuri's satellite constellations with private-sector participation, showcasing a shift from proving independent space access to building and operating satellite constellations.
The five NEONSATs are part of a planned 10-satellite constellation aimed at observing the Korean Peninsula for national security and disaster response. The remaining satellites are scheduled for launch next year, promising enhanced imaging capabilities over the region.
KASA plans to conduct at least one annual Nuri launch until 2032 to improve reliability and transition to a private-led commercial launch service. The CubeSats aboard Wednesday's flight represent a shift toward smaller, standardized satellites, offering diverse mission capabilities from space radiation monitoring to AI-based pharmaceutical experiments.
This mission also marks a shift from a government-led model to an industry-led approach. Hanwha Aerospace Co. has taken on manufacturing and assembly responsibilities and participated in launch preparations and operations. Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon celebrated the launch as a milestone for South Korea's space industry, emphasizing continued government support for a commercially driven space industry.
Experts note that transitioning to a new space economy is vital for creating business opportunities across the space value chain and lowering launch costs. However, challenges remain in transforming South Korea's launch capability into a competitive commercial service, particularly in developing reusable launch technologies and increasing launch frequency.
Ahn Hyung-joon from the Science and Technology Policy Institute highlights the global market's shift towards reusable and low-cost launches, stressing the need for South Korea to invest in next-generation space technologies to enhance competitiveness.