Nuri blasted off into space carrying a satellite from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) aboard a launch vehicle built by the private corporation Hanwha Aerospace (Hanwha Aero). With the success of this fourth launch, Korea has entered the "new space" era in which the private sector leads space development. The corporations are already preparing the fifth launch in the first half of next year. They plan to broaden the scope of participation and load different types of satellites.
Nuri lifted off at 1:13 a.m. on the 27th from the Naro Space Center in Goheung County, South Jeolla. It came two years and six months after the third launch on May 25, 2023. An industry official said, "This fourth launch is meaningful in that the launch vehicle and next-generation medium satellite production, which had been led by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), have been transferred to Hanwha Aerospace and KAI, respectively," adding, "It symbolizes a truly private sector-led 'new space era.'" Launch command and control remain under KARI.
Hanwha Aero served as the "system integrator" managing more than 300 corporations that took part in building Nuri this time. Until the third launch, it had only assisted KARI with Nuri's manufacturing and assembly, but this time it received a technology transfer and took on most tasks from launch vehicle production to assembly and operations.
Nuri is equipped with four 75-ton-class liquid engines on the first stage and one on the second stage, and assembling a 75-ton engine requires about 2,400 parts and 458 processes. Hanwha Aerospace is the only corporation in Korea capable of producing medium-to-large launch vehicle engines used for Nuri-class and larger rockets.
KAI handled development of the main payload, the third next-generation medium satellite. KAI took part in the development of the first unit and received a transfer of system and bus technologies, and has overseen satellite development since the second unit. The main payload will carry various instruments and conduct space experiments directly. A KAI official said, "The next-generation medium satellite launched this time is a standard model and will be developed for various mission purposes going forward."
With the number of secondary payload satellites riding with the main payload increasing from seven in the third launch to 12 this time, observers say the business potential has expanded further. The total payload mass also doubled to 1,040 kg. It demonstrated the potential for a "rocket delivery" service that can transport goods at the time and place customers want.
◇ Countdown for the fifth launch next year… Private participation to broaden
The corporations are already preparing the fifth launch in June next year and the sixth launch in 2027. With the success of this fourth launch, the scope of private corporations' participation is expected to expand further. For Hanwha Aerospace, the system integrator, the number of participants at the Mission Director Center (MDC) and the Launch Control Center (LCC) for the fifth launch is likely to increase, considering the status of technology transfer absorption.
Up to the fourth launch, KARI had exclusive responsibility for launch command, control, and management, and it is now opening the door to the private sector little by little. For the sixth launch, Hanwha Aerospace will take part in all areas except for the launch director, the launch operations director, and part of the LCC.
Up to the fourth launch, a medium satellite was the main payload, but starting with the fifth, it will switch to an ultra-small satellite, which is another hallmark. The aim is to develop an ultra-small satellite constellation system. A Hanwha Aerospace official explained, "A constellation's purpose is to operate multiple satellites simultaneously in the same orbit," adding, "If a launch vehicle can transport various satellites into space at once, it will be possible to carry out even more complex space missions."
Both Hanwha Aerospace and KAI currently have ultra-small satellite development capabilities. An industry official said, "It has not yet been decided whether Hanwha Aerospace's 'H model' or KAI's 'K model' will go into mass production," adding, "For the fifth launch, there is a possibility that only one model will be loaded or that both models will be loaded."