Space Agency to Launch 'Nuriho 4' in the Second Half of This Year

The Korea Aerospace Agency plans to launch the fourth Nuri rocket, developed primarily by the private sector, in the second half of this year and will also pursue the acquisition of reusable launch vehicle technology to reduce launch costs.

The agency announced the "2025 Korea Aerospace Agency Work Plan," which includes these details, on the 22nd.

The Korean space launch vehicle Nuriho (KSLV-II), independently developed by our country, is being launched on the afternoon of May 25, 2023, at the Naro Space Center in Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do. Photo by Yonhap News

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To become one of the top five aerospace powers, the agency has set three policy directions: ▲accelerating a private sector-led aerospace economy ▲preemptively securing future technologies to lead globally ▲creating an aerospace culture that the public can enjoy and support, and plans to promote seven core tasks.

First, the fourth launch of the Nuri rocket, led by Hanwha Aerospace, will be conducted in the second half of the year. The agency will also actively pursue securing reusable launch vehicles that can drastically reduce launch costs like SpaceX by the mid-2030s. It will produce and distribute satellite development manuals to assist private companies entering the space industry and present a satellite development roadmap for verifying space materials and components to promote private-led satellite development.

The third next-generation medium-sized satellite and the sixth and seventh multipurpose practical satellites (Arirang) will be launched in the second half of this year. The agency will also initiate projects for the fifth geostationary meteorological satellite (Cheollian) and low Earth orbit satellite communication technology development. An exemption from preliminary feasibility studies will be pursued for the development of Arirang 8, which will be equipped with next-generation imaging radar.

To strengthen deep space exploration, the agency will jointly develop the world's first space telescope capable of extensive space exploration and 3D space mapping, called "SphereX," with NASA, and will begin demonstration next month. It will also be the first in the world to pursue the construction of the solar wind space observatory at the fourth Lagrange point (L4), considered a strategic location for deep space exploration. Additionally, in cooperation with NASA, the agency will demonstrate the space environment monitor "LUSEM," designed for private lunar landers, in September and will embark on developing core technologies and landers for lunar landing by 2032.

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The agency plans to solidify the foundation for aerospace policy formulation by holding the aerospace policy governance meetings (National Space Committee and Aerospace Development Policy Deliberation Council) about once per quarter on average. It will also hold the "1st Aerospace Day" on May 27 to promote aerospace culture.

International cooperation in the aerospace sector will be expanded. The 4th Korea-U.S. Private Space Dialogue will be held to expand private space sector cooperation across space policy, industry, and exploration with the Trump administration. The agency will also provide business opportunities and promote international cooperation in various ways, including hosting the Korea-France Space Forum, signing a space cooperation agreement with India, joining the international Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) as a member country, revitalizing aerospace funds, and fostering a startup ecosystem.

Yoon Young-bin, head of the Korea Aerospace Agency, said, "This year will be a fiercely competitive year among nations to secure leadership in aerospace," adding, "We will consolidate national capabilities to seize opportunities in the era of aerospace hegemony, lead the global aerospace industry, and embark on a full-scale takeoff toward becoming one of the top five aerospace powers."

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