Korean Launch Vehicle Nuriho Enters 'Final Inspection' Before First Launch

Inspection Begins After Flight Model Upright
If Confirmed Normal, Launch Scheduled for 21st Next Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The Korean-type launch vehicle 'Nuriho' has entered its final inspection ahead of its first launch scheduled for the end of October.

According to the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 24th, Minister Lim Hye-sook visited the Naro Space Center in Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, the development site of Nuriho, to check the launch preparation status. Minister Lim's on-site visit and encouragement came as Nuriho has entered the final stage it must pass before launch.

Nuriho completed the assembly of the flight model (FM) to be used in the actual launch on the 20th. It was then moved to the launch pad and erected, followed by a check to ensure the system linkage between the launch vehicle and the launch pad is functioning properly. In particular, through the Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) test, which involves injecting and removing the oxidizer (liquid hydrogen) at an extremely low temperature of minus 183 degrees Celsius, they verify whether the vehicle can operate normally without fuel or oxidizer leakage during the actual launch process. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute plans to conduct the WDR from the end of this month to early September and, if no special issues arise, will proceed with full-scale launch preparations. The oxidizer charging and discharging process takes a full day, and result analysis takes about a week.

In fact, not all space rockets about to launch conduct a WDR. The reason for such meticulous inspection is that although Nuriho succeeded in a test launch in 2018 and the first stage, which combines four 75-ton engines, has safely completed three comprehensive combustion tests, this is the first time it will be launched as a complete vehicle. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute also conducted a WDR during the test launch in November 2018, discovered an abnormality in the pressurization system, postponed the launch date for repairs, and then succeeded in the launch.

Meanwhile, Minister Lim personally inspected the launch vehicle with all three stages connected for the WDR and encouraged the personnel working on-site. Minister Lim said, "Seeing the launch vehicle for the actual launch at the final stage after a long development period is very moving," and added, "Just as we have overcome the difficult journey of independent development so far, I hope the launch preparations proceed flawlessly."

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