[Breaking] Nuriho Final Combustion Test Success... 'Korean Space Launch Vehicle' Dream Nears Completion

KARI Successfully Completes 130-Second Combustion Test at Naro Space Center on 25th Afternoon
Launch Pad Preparation, Final Assembly, and Testing Completed, Launch Scheduled
October Launch of Completed Model with Dummy Satellite, First Attempt to Orbit Satellite in May Next Year
President Moon Jae-in Observes and Hears Vision for Becoming One of the World's Top 7 Space Powers

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] On the 25th, South Korea's independent space launch vehicle Nuriho development passed the crucial final hurdle. The final performance test of the most important first-stage propulsion system was successfully conducted, leaving only the final preparation stages such as launch pad and flight model assembly. President Moon Jae-in also attended the launch test site that day, receiving a briefing on the space development plan and expressing the government's determination to enhance national pride by entering the ranks of the world's top seven space powers.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) conducted the final comprehensive combustion test of the Nuriho first-stage propulsion system at around 2:55 p.m. on the 25th at the Naro Space Center located in Oenarodo, Bongrae-myeon, Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do. The ignited first-stage propulsion system operated normally for about 130 seconds, successfully passing the final performance verification test. This was the last combustion test before launch, using a qualification model (QM) identical to the flight model (FM) to confirm the performance of the Nuriho first stage.

Previously, KARI had successfully conducted combustion tests twice, in January (30 seconds) and February (100 seconds). The government has been investing a total of 1.9572 trillion won since 2010 to develop Nuriho, aiming to secure autonomous space transportation capability through independent space launch vehicle development. In November 2018, a launch test of the 75-ton class medium-to-large liquid engine, which was manufactured as the first-stage propulsion system, was also successful.

The Nuriho first stage consists of four clustered 75-ton engines, and the second stage is composed of a single 75-ton engine. The third stage is for carrying payloads such as satellites. Particularly, the first stage’s clustered four engines must ignite simultaneously and produce uniform thrust as if they were one engine to fly on the correct trajectory, making it the most critical technology in space launch vehicle development. Nuriho has a total length of 47.2 meters, a maximum diameter of 3.5 meters, and weighs 200 tons. It is designed to launch medium-sized satellites weighing 1.5 tons into low Earth orbit at altitudes of 600 to 800 kilometers.

The remaining tasks include launch pad certification tests (June to July), completion of flight model assembly, and actual launches (first in October and second in May next year). KARI plans to load a 1.5-ton dummy satellite during the first launch in October to verify the launch vehicle’s performance. During the second launch, both a performance verification satellite and a dummy satellite will be loaded to perform the first-ever operation of placing satellites into orbit. If this is successful, all major satellites, including South Korea’s next-generation medium-sized satellite No. 2 and lunar exploration orbiters, will be launched into space aboard Nuriho.

On the same day, the Ministry of Science and ICT introduced to President Moon the space development plans including Nuriho development, establishment of a Korean GPS satellite system, ultra-small satellite constellation system, lunar exploration satellites and lander launches, and asteroid Apophis exploration plans. The government reported plans to activate the space industry by transferring launch vehicle and satellite manufacturing technologies led by the government to the private sector, pioneering overseas markets, strengthening space governance by upgrading the National Space Committee chaired by the Prime Minister, and building space industry infrastructure. Through these efforts, the government aims to firmly establish South Korea as one of the world’s top seven space powers by the 2030s, boosting national pride and fostering global space companies to generate economic benefits.

Meanwhile, the 'Naroho' launched successfully in 2013 was not a native launch vehicle, as it was produced by transferring technology from Russia.

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