[Nuriho 3rd Launch] Who Was the First 'Passenger'?

Deployment of 8 Satellites from 550km Orbit
Next-Generation Small Satellite No. 2 and Others for Science and Technology Demonstration-Verification
"First Enjoyment of Benefits from Owning Independent Launch Vehicle"

The Nuriho 3rd launch vehicle, launched at 6:24 PM on the 25th, carries satellites developed with South Korea's advanced scientific technology, attracting attention. These satellites will be remembered in history as the first guests of the space launch vehicle independently developed by South Korea.

First, the primary payload, Next-Generation Small Satellite No. 2, aims primarily at the localization of the advanced observation equipment Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). It is a national satellite developed by the KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) Satellite Research Center with an investment of 24 billion KRW. It is equipped with a small SAR capable of ground observation during day, night, and adverse weather conditions. Utilizing an X-band SAR with a resolution of 5 meters and an observation width of 40 km, it plans to detect changes in Arctic sea ice that directly affect abnormal climate conditions on the Korean Peninsula. It is also used for monitoring forest ecological changes and marine environmental pollution. Additionally, it carries near-Earth orbit space radiation observation equipment to monitor solar activity. To verify core space technologies, it is equipped with ▲ a thermal control device using phase change materials ▲ an X-band GaN-based power amplifier ▲ a combined navigation receiver for the US Global Positioning System (GPS) and Europe's Galileo ▲ and solar cell arrays. It weighs 177.9 kg and measures 97.4 cm in width × 134 cm in length × 82 cm in height. Its mission lifespan is 2 years, and its orbit is a sun-synchronous orbit at 550 km altitude.

Next-generation Small Satellite No. 2. Photo by Korea Aerospace Research Institute

Four 'troublesome' Toyosat (SNIPE) satellites were also launched. They will test South Korea's first small satellite swarm operation technology. Developed by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) with an investment of about 10 billion KRW, they carry missions to observe space weather such as space radiation and magnetic fields near Earth. They are equipped with instruments including a particle detector (SST), Langmuir probe (LP), and magnetometer (MAG). Flying in formation at an altitude of 550 km, they observe temporal and spatial changes in space weather such as Earth's magnetic field. In particular, to acquire small satellite swarm operation technology, they will test column formation flying in a line and row formation flying side by side. Through the particle detector, they also observe high-energy electrons that cause auroras flickering in less than one second. They observe ionospheric plasma bubbles that disrupt satellite communication and GPS signals. This phenomenon mainly occurs in equatorial regions, where ionospheric plasma is observed to be tens to hundreds of times lower than the surrounding plasma density. KASI plans to receive data from NASA's ground station and jointly utilize the data. Initially, they planned to use a Russian launch vehicle and had already paid 65% of the launch cost, but the Russia-Ukraine war in February last year delayed the launch, and they secured a ticket on the Nuriho 3rd launch. Each satellite weighs 10 kg, has a size of 6U, and a mission lifespan of 1 year.

Researchers at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute are conducting final inspection work on the TOYOSAT satellite delivered to the Naro Space Center satellite storage building. Photo by KARI

In addition, three technology demonstration CubeSats developed by private companies were launched. 'Lumir-T1,' developed by Lumirsa, aims to demonstrate space radiation measurement and error correction technology in space. Specifically, it carries a microprocessor board with a radiation detector to develop computers mounted on satellites and spacecraft. 'JAC' by Justec is equipped with a space camera (EO) with a resolution of about 4 meters. Its purpose is to develop Earth observation imaging equipment and verify attitude control systems in space. 'KSAT3U' by Kyros Space is a CubeSat for observing weather phenomena through surface polarization characteristics and demonstrating space debris mitigation technology.

Kairospace Cube Satellite KSAT3U delivered to the satellite storage building at Naro Space Center. Photo by KARI

Lumir researchers are conducting the final inspection of the cube satellite Lumir-T1, which has arrived at the satellite storage building of Naro Space Center. Photo by KARI

Engineers from JusTech are conducting the final inspection of the Cube satellite JAC. Photo by KARI, video capture.

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