Goheung: South Korea’s homegrown space rocket, Nuri, has successfully launched for the fourth time from the Naro Space Center in the southern coastal village of Goheung. This launch marks a significant milestone in South Korea’s space exploration efforts, showcasing the country’s ability to independently develop and launch a space vehicle capable of deploying satellites into orbit.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the journey to this successful fourth launch began decades ago, with major developmental milestones along the way. South Korea’s foray into space exploration started on June 4, 1993, with the launch of the Korea Space Rocket-I, a one-stage solid-propelled science observation rocket. This was followed by the KSR-II launch on July 9, 1997, which introduced advanced technologies, including guided control and stage separation.
In March 2001, South Korea joined the Missile Technology Control Regime, an informal international association aiming to prevent the proliferation of unmanned delivery systems for weapons of mass destruction. In collaboration with Russia, South Korea embarked on the development of the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-I (KSLV-I) in August 2002, setting the stage for future space endeavors.
The Naro Space Center was inaugurated on June 11, 2009, paving the way for the first launch of the KSLV-I, which experienced several challenges, including an aborted countdown on August 19, 2009, and a failed satellite deployment on August 25, 2009. A subsequent launch attempt on June 10, 2010, resulted in an explosion shortly after liftoff. However, perseverance paid off, and the KSLV-I was successfully launched on January 30, 2013.
The development of the KSLV-II, later named Nuri, began in March 2010. South Korea conducted successful combustion tests in 2014 and 2016, leading to the comprehensive combustion test of the KSLV-II rocket in March 2018. The first test launch of Nuri occurred on October 21, 2021, achieving partial success, while a successful deployment of satellites was accomplished with the second launch on June 21, 2022.
Further cementing its position in space exploration, South Korea launched the Korea AeroSpace Administration in 2024 to oversee national space strategy and foster international cooperation. In 2025, Hanwha Aerospace Co. acquired technologies related to the Nuri rocket, underscoring the country’s commitment to advancing its space capabilities.
The successful fourth launch of Nuri not only highlights South Korea’s technological advancements but also its status as one of the few nations capable of developing and launching space vehicles for satellite deployment, solidifying its position among the world’s space powerhouses.