Nuriho Launch Operation Procedures Begin... Propellant Injection Starts (Comprehensive) [Nuriho 2nd Launch]

Ministry of Science and ICT-KARI to Decide via Launch Management Committee on the Morning of the 21st

The Korean launch vehicle Nuriho (KSLV-II), designed and manufactured entirely with domestic technology, is mounted on the launch pad at Naro Space Center in Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, awaiting launch during its second launch on the 21st. Unlike the first launch, which carried only a dummy satellite with no actual functionality, this second Nuriho launch is equipped with a performance verification satellite and four CubeSats. 2022.6.21 Goheung - Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] On the morning of the 21st, the launch operation procedure for South Korea's first indigenous space launch vehicle, Nuriho, began, and the decision was made to inject propellants such as fuel and oxidizer. The weather conditions are also favorable. Now, only the launch button remains to be pressed, and barring any unexpected events, the launch is expected around 4 p.m. that day.

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) held a launch management committee meeting at 10:30 a.m. at the Naro Space Center in Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, and made this decision. The committee stated, "We confirmed that the preparations for the Nuriho launch are progressing smoothly and checked the weather conditions at the Naro Space Center today," adding, "The currently confirmed weather conditions are analyzed to be suitable for the Nuriho launch criteria. Therefore, it was decided to proceed with the launch operation procedures, including the charging of propellants for the Nuriho launch."

Accordingly, about 180 tons of fuel (kerosene) and oxidizer (liquid oxygen) began to be injected into Nuriho. The launch management committee will hold another meeting around 2 p.m. to decide the final launch time after 4 p.m. that day, considering the final inspection results and weather conditions. Currently, at the Naro Space Center, ground winds are around 1 to 3 meters per second, and high-altitude winds above 10 km are about 50 meters per second, which does not interfere with the launch of the space launch vehicle. It is also not raining.

Earlier, Nuriho was transported from the assembly building to the second launch pad, 1.8 km away, starting at 7:20 a.m. the previous day, where it was erected, mounted, and secured. From the afternoon, an umbilical was connected for fuel and electricity supply and system checks, and final inspections of various components were conducted. As a result, it was confirmed that all parts, including the oxidizer tank level sensor of the first-stage engine, which had malfunctioned on the 15th, were operating normally. Additionally, the airtightness inspection for any fuel or oxidizer leaks was completed without issues.

After Nuriho is launched around 4 p.m. that day, it will reach an altitude of 700 km, and the success of the mission will be confirmed 16 minutes and 7 seconds later when the performance verification satellite and the mock satellite are both separated.

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