[Nuriho 3rd Launch] 'Practice' in 2nd, 'Real Battle' This Time

"Why does Nuriho keep launching? Shouldn't it succeed in one go?"

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

This is a comment heard from some quarters regarding Korea's first independently developed space launch vehicle, Nuriho's third launch conducted on the afternoon of the 25th. However, Nuriho already completed its development by successfully launching the second mission last June. The third launch carries another important historical significance.

The difference from the first launch in October 2021 and the second launch last June is that this is the first 'real mission.' It is a historic day when Korea's independent launch vehicle performs a mission to carry and launch a practical-grade satellite for the first time. Although the second launch also placed a satellite mock-up, a performance verification satellite, and CubeSats into orbit, these were solely for performance verification. In other words, the goal was to prove the cargo transport capability of 1.5 tons by reaching an altitude of 700 km at a final speed of 7.5 km/s, and satellite orbit insertion was secondary. However, this time, the mission involves carrying a practical satellite worth hundreds of billions of won as a guest and delivering it to the desired orbit. The next-generation small satellite 2 is an advanced synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite made at a cost of 24 billion won, making it quite valuable. Four Toyosat satellites also had a budget of 10 billion won invested.

Accordingly, the launch process differs significantly. The second launch was conducted at 4 p.m., but the third launch took place at 6:24 p.m. This was a measure considering the time to insert the next-generation small satellite 2 into a dawn-dusk orbit, which requires a lot of sunlight. The launch altitude was adjusted from 700 km in the second launch to 550 km, and the total weight decreased from 201.5 tons to 200.4 tons. The payload weight in the cargo bay also decreased from 1.5 tons to 504 kg. This includes 180 kg for the next-generation small satellite 2, 60 kg for seven secondary payload satellites, and 264 kg for the satellite deployment device and adapter. The satellite separation procedure also changed. In the previous launch, the first separation occurred 875 seconds after liftoff, followed by the second separation 70 seconds later. This time, the main payload satellite was separated 783 seconds after liftoff, and then seven satellites were sequentially ejected at 20-second intervals. The total flight time was 1,095 seconds (18 minutes 15 seconds) in the second launch but slightly longer at 1,138 seconds (18 minutes 58 seconds) in the third launch.

The government plans to conduct three additional Nuriho launches (Korean launch vehicle advancement) from 2025 to 2027, covering the 4th to 6th launches. Through this, they plan to place the third next-generation medium satellite, the 2nd to 6th ultra-small satellites, and the 7th to 11th ultra-small satellites into orbit.

The reason for repeatedly launching Nuriho is to improve reliability by optimizing and stabilizing the launch process. Also, as system integration companies take charge of manufacturing the launch vehicle, it helps enhance the technology of the domestic industrial ecosystem.

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