Single-stage assembly of the flight model for the fifth launch of Nuri is about 70% to 90% complete. The Korea AeroSpace Administration is checking preparations for the follow-on Nuri launches and the foundation of a private-led space transportation industry, aiming for a launch in the third quarter of this year.
The Korea AeroSpace Administration on the 14th held the fifth "Space-Aero SOS roundtable" at Hanwha Aerospace's Plant 1 in Changwon, South Gyeongsang, with 11 launch vehicle–related corporations including Hanwha Aerospace. The roundtable was organized to hear opinions from companies participating in the Nuri launch and to discuss ways to grow the domestic launch vehicle industrial ecosystem through sustained launches.
Hanwha Aerospace, the system prime contractor, shared the status of preparations for the fifth Nuri launch and plans for subsequent launches. It said single-stage assembly of the fifth Nuri vehicle is 70% to 90% complete by phase, and assembly and test procedures are underway with a target launch in the third quarter of 2026. The fifth Nuri launch is expected to carry five ultra-small cluster satellites and 10 rideshare satellites.
Assembly of the fifth Nuri vehicle ramped up last year. The Korea AeroSpace Administration, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), and Hanwha Aerospace held a review meeting in May last year to kick off single-stage assembly of flight model No. 5, checking the final assembly procedures, component delivery status, and plans for quality assurance and safety management. At the time, the Korea AeroSpace Administration said it would conduct assembly and testing in parallel to match the follow-on Nuri launches to be carried out once a year through 2027.
At the roundtable, corporations agreed that stable launch opportunities are needed to invigorate the launch vehicle industry. The judgment was that beyond one-off development results, repeated manufacturing, assembly, testing, and launch operations are necessary for industry to invest in facilities and personnel. The attending corporations stressed the need to transition to a commercial launch service system by creating continuous launch demand and strengthening public-private cooperation.
Oh Tae-seok, head of the Korea AeroSpace Administration, said, "We will build trust and enhance competitiveness through the continued launch successes of Nuri to invigorate the space industry ecosystem," adding, "We will support the field so that private-sector capabilities can be brought to bear by reflecting on-site feedback."