Goheung:South Korea's indigenously developed Nuri rocket is poised for its fifth launch, set to carry 15 satellites into space, including components of the country's inaugural microsatellite constellation.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the launch is scheduled to occur at 12:25 p.m. from the Naro Space Center, located approximately 400 kilometers south of Seoul. Oh Tae-seok, the administrator of the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), confirmed that both the rocket and environmental conditions are suitable for the launch, with no anticipated issues related to space debris.
The payload includes five New-space Earth Observation Satellite Constellation for National Safety (NEONSAT) microsatellites and ten CubeSats. Preparations will begin around four hours before liftoff, involving the fueling of the rocket with kerosene and liquid oxygen after completing system checks.
The launch sequence involves the separation of Nuri's first and second stages at 123 and 268 seconds post-launch, respectively, with satellite deployment commencing between 810 and 960 seconds at an altitude of about 575 kilometers. The NEONSATs will be released at 35 to 40-second intervals, with the rocket's upper stage rotating to avoid collisions, followed by the CubeSats, which will be deployed in pairs every 10 seconds.
After deploying all satellites, Nuri will execute a collision-avoidance maneuver and vent its remaining fuel, concluding its mission approximately 20 minutes after launch. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute will monitor the flight from South Korea and Palau.
This mission marks Nuri's first attempt to deploy multiple primary satellites sequentially for a unified mission. The NEONSATs, each weighing less than 100 kilograms, are equipped with electro-optical cameras for monitoring the Korean Peninsula and adjacent areas, enhancing national security and disaster response capabilities.
The NEONSAT constellation will ultimately consist of ten satellites, with the remaining five scheduled for launch next year. Once fully operational, the constellation will provide more than thrice-daily imaging of the Korean Peninsula, with the ability to revisit specific locations within 24 hours.