Goheung:South Korea achieved a significant milestone by successfully deploying five satellites for its first domestically launched microsatellite constellation during the fifth flight of its homegrown Nuri rocket. The launch took place from the Naro Space Center, located about 400 kilometers south of Seoul.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the 200-ton Nuri rocket lifted off at 12:25 p.m., completing its mission approximately 20 minutes later. This launch marked the first attempt by South Korea to sequentially deploy multiple primary satellites designed for the same mission, showcasing a crucial capability for launching and operating satellite constellations.
The primary payload consisted of five NEONSAT microsatellites, which are part of the New-space Earth Observation Satellite Constellation for National Safety. The deployment was executed with precision, with satellites Nos. 2 through 6 being released 35 to 40 seconds apart. Additionally, nine out of ten CubeSat secondary payloads were successfully deployed, though one, developed by South Korean startup Quaternion, failed to separate from the rocket.
The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) confirmed that the NEONSAT satellites established initial contact with South Korea's King Sejong Station in Antarctica shortly before 6 p.m. After completing the satellite deployment, the Nuri rocket performed a collision-avoidance maneuver and vented its remaining fuel. It will remain in orbit before eventually reentering Earth's atmosphere and burning up.
This mission increased Nuri's overall launch success rate from 75 percent to 80 percent, marking its fourth consecutive success following an initial failure in 2021. KASA Administrator Oh Tae-seok emphasized that the successful deployment demonstrated South Korea's advanced space transportation capabilities, enabling a range of missions aligned with customers' orbital and scheduling requirements.
The NEONSAT satellites, each weighing less than 100 kilograms, are equipped with electro-optical cameras capable of distinguishing objects as small as 1 meter in black-and-white images and 4 meters in color images. These satellites aim to monitor the Korean Peninsula and its surroundings for national security and disaster response purposes.
The full NEONSAT constellation is planned to include ten satellites, with the remaining five set to launch on Nuri's sixth flight in the latter half of 2027. Once operational, the constellation will provide imaging of the Korean Peninsula more than three times daily, with the ability to revisit the same location within 24 hours.
This launch represents a shift in South Korea's space program from a government-led initiative to a more industry-driven model. Hanwha Aerospace Co., which received Nuri-related technology from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, was responsible for manufacturing the rocket and participated in launch operations. Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon highlighted the growing role of private companies in the space industry and promised continued government support for future private-sector-led launches.