Nuriho 2nd Launch Confirmed for the 15th of Next Month... Will It End the Regret of 'Incomplete Success'?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] South Korea's first indigenous space launch vehicle, 'Nuriho,' is scheduled for its second launch on the 15th of next month as planned. Attention is focused on whether it can successfully place the performance test satellite into orbit and make up for the 'unfinished success' that fell short by 1% during the first launch.

The Ministry of Science and ICT held the 'Nuriho Launch Management Committee' at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do on the 25th, where they comprehensively reviewed the technical preparations and optimal launch conditions for the second Nuriho launch and confirmed the schedule accordingly.

The committee thoroughly examined the current preparation status for the second launch, the final preparations until the launch, and launch conditions (weather, space environment, possibility of collision with space objects), and set the scheduled launch date as June 15. In case of unavoidable changes due to weather conditions, the launch will be attempted between June 16 and June 23.

Currently, Nuriho has completed technical improvements based on the results of the first launch and finished the assembly between the first and second stages. While installing pyrotechnic devices to operate propulsion system components inside the first and second stages, preliminary preparations are underway to load the performance verification satellite onto the third stage. The performance verification satellite to be loaded onto Nuriho arrived at the Naro Space Center on the 16th and is undergoing final inspections before being mounted on Nuriho, scheduled to be installed on the third stage by early June. On the 19th, a comprehensive final inspection drill for safety assurance was conducted with the participation of 11 organizations, including the government, local governments, and military and police forces.

Meanwhile, Nuriho is South Korea's first space launch vehicle developed since 2011 with an investment of approximately 1.957 trillion won. During the first launch on October 21 last year, most operations such as stage separations and reaching the target orbit proceeded smoothly, but the final goal?the mock satellite?failed to enter orbit because the third stage engine prematurely stopped thrusting and lost power at the last moment. Subsequently, the Ministry of Science and ICT, along with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and others, investigated the cause and confirmed that the helium tank fixing device of the third stage engine had come loose, shortening the planned propulsion time by 46 seconds, and then began technical improvements. As a result, the launch was postponed by about a month from mid-May.

The government plans to manufacture four more rockets through additional launch projects to place them into orbit and secure safety and reliability. It is also reviewing plans to invest 2 trillion won to upgrade to advanced high-performance rockets that are reusable and use clean fuel.

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