'Next Nuriho' Payload Capacity Increases... Missile Guidelines Revised

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] On the 28th, the Blue House announced the revision of the South Korea-U.S. missile guidelines, raising expectations for improvements in space launch vehicle performance. This is expected to lead to advancements in various space sectors, such as the development of space launch vehicles using a variety of solid and liquid fuels like advanced countries, the entry of private companies into the space industry, and the launch of heavy multi-purpose practical satellites with domestic launch vehicles. Institutes such as the Korea Aerospace Research Institute forecast that with the lifting of restrictions on the use of solid fuel for space launch vehicles starting today, South Korea’s space capabilities will significantly increase.

Development of Space Launch Vehicles Using Various Fuels Now Possible

With this measure, it has become possible to use solid fuel without limitation in space launch vehicles, enabling the development of various launch vehicles. Like advanced space development countries, it is now possible to develop various launch vehicles combining solid engines and liquid engines. In South Korea’s case, there is experience in developing KSR-1 (’93), KSR-2 (’98), and Naroho second stage (’13) using solid propellants.

The economic efficiency of space launch vehicles has also improved. Solid engine launch vehicles have relatively simpler structures compared to liquid engine launch vehicles. They are characterized by lower development costs and shorter development schedules.

This is also expected to act as a catalyst to accelerate the entry of private companies into the space industry. It is anticipated that the private space industry can be fostered by developing small solid-fuel-based space launch vehicles that can launch satellites, which are relatively easier to develop.

Nuriho as Planned... Performance Enhancement with Solid Fuel Boosters

On the afternoon of the 28th, at the launch pad of Naro Space Center in Bongrae-myeon, Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, the test launch vehicle of the Korean launch vehicle Nuriho's engine soared into the sky, emitting white smoke. This engine test launch vehicle is designed to verify the performance of the 75-ton liquid engine used in the Korean launch vehicle 'Nuriho' and corresponds to the second stage of Nuriho, which consists of a total of three stages. The test launch vehicle is 25.8 meters long, has a maximum diameter of 2.6 meters, and weighs 52.1 tons. / Goheung = Photo by Joint Press Corps

However, the domestically developed space launch vehicle Nuriho, scheduled for launch next year, is being developed based on liquid fuel, so it is expected to be difficult to suddenly change the development plan to use solid fuel.

Nevertheless, after the successful launch of Nuriho, the payload capacity can be increased by developing auxiliary boosters using solid fuel. Nuriho’s payload capacity is 1.5 tons, and with solid fuel, it will be possible to secure the power to send satellites larger than this weight into space. Currently, satellites are becoming heavier due to higher performance and larger sizes.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute stated, “If auxiliary boosters using solid fuel are developed based on the Nuriho platform, the payload capacity of space launch vehicles will increase, which is expected to greatly improve South Korea’s space capabilities.”

Meanwhile, until this guideline revision, South Korea’s development of solid fuel rockets was blocked under the South Korea-U.S. missile guidelines. All solid fuel rocket development was considered military use. To send a launch vehicle into space requires 50 to 60 million pound-seconds (Ib·sec), but development of launch vehicles with thrust exceeding 1 million pound-seconds (Ib·sec) was restricted.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.