[Nuriho 3rd Launch] Capturing the 'Three Rabbits' of Space, Technology, and Economy

First Practical Deployment, Securing a 'Practical Space Launch Vehicle'
Advanced Science and Technology Experiments
Revitalization of the Private Space Industry

South Korea's first independently developed space launch vehicle, 'Nuriho,' was launched for the third time on the 25th at 3 p.m. This marks the first operational mission to place commercial satellites worth hundreds of millions of won, including the next-generation Small Satellite 2, into orbit. If successful, it will simultaneously achieve three goals: practical use of space launch vehicles, advanced scientific technology experiments, and revitalization of the private space industry.

Owning a Commercial Space Launch Vehicle That Money Can't Buy

Until now, South Korea has suffered many hardships due to the lack of an independent launch vehicle during satellite launches. The four SNIPE satellites onboard the third Nuriho launch are a representative example. Developed by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute for space weather observation and research, they were originally scheduled to be launched mid-last year using a Russian Soyuz rocket. However, due to international sanctions following the Russia-Ukraine war, despite having paid about 65% of the launch costs, the launch was stalled. The launches of the next-generation medium-sized satellite (Chajung) 2 and the multipurpose practical satellite (Arirang) 6, which were planned for the second half of last year, have also been continuously delayed for the same reasons. The Arirang 2 satellite, launched in 2006, initially contracted with China's Long March launch vehicle due to lower costs, but the U.S. opposed this based on the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), forcing a switch to the Russian Soyuz launch vehicle and resulting in a loss of the deposit. Besides these, there have been numerous occasions where, lacking an independent launch vehicle, South Korea had to rely on the discretion of the launch vehicle-owning countries when launching domestically made satellites.

However, with the successful second launch last year completing the development of Nuriho, South Korea has firmly established itself as a country possessing a launch vehicle capable of placing commercial satellites weighing over 1 ton into orbit. This is the seventh such achievement worldwide, following the United States, Russia, China, Japan, the European Union (EU), and India. If the third Nuriho launch succeeds, it will validate its reliability and stability, establishing it as a truly 'commercial space launch vehicle.' While the first and second launches were test flights, this time it carries 'guests' such as the next-generation Small Satellite 2, which cost 24 billion won, and the 10 billion won SNIPE satellites, marking the first operational mission to deliver payloads to the target orbit. It will acquire technologies necessary for full-scale commercial missions, such as finely adjusting engine thrust to match the target orbit and controlling the satellite ejection angle and direction. Many launch vehicles developed by other advanced space nations have also been recognized for their performance after learning from initial failure rates averaging around 30% and undergoing repeated improvements.

Advanced Scientific Technology Experiments

All satellites onboard the third Nuriho launch vehicle are for demonstrating advanced scientific technologies. They were developed to test the performance of advanced observation instruments and attitude control devices in the actual space environment. First, the next-generation Small Satellite 2, developed by KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), is equipped with a domestically produced synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to undergo space verification. SAR is an imaging device that can observe the Earth day and night, regardless of weather, and is an essential element of advanced Earth observation satellites. Additionally, missions include near-Earth orbit space radiation observation, space technology verification of thermal control devices using phase change materials, X-band GaN-based power amplifiers, combined navigation receivers for the U.S. GPS and European Galileo systems, and solar array technology. The four SNIPE satellites from the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute will not only carry out space weather observation missions but also demonstrate South Korea's first small satellite constellation operation technology.

Growing the Korean Version of SpaceX

The United States initially conducted space development centered on national agencies (NASA) but faced challenges related to capital investment, research and development speed, agility, and bureaucratization. Consequently, it successfully revitalized the private space industry by fostering companies like SpaceX. Thus, an era of space development led by the private sector, known as the New Space era, has begun. South Korea is also moving in step with this trend by transferring launch vehicle manufacturing and launch operation technologies to the private sector, using the third Nuriho launch as a turning point to foster the space industry. Hanwha Aerospace, selected last October as the system integrator for the 'Korean Launch Vehicle Advancement Project,' is the first company to take on this role. Hanwha Aerospace has already practically developed and manufactured the 75-ton liquid engine for Nuriho and will participate in the overall management of vehicle manufacturing and assembly from the third launch, as well as take part in launch operation procedures. Its role will expand further in the fourth to sixth launches scheduled through 2027. Through this, it will acquire comprehensive technologies related to space launch vehicles. For Hanwha Aerospace, this means receiving 20 years of space launch vehicle technology and know-how, providing a foundation to grow into the Korean version of SpaceX.

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