▲ The Nuri space launch vehicle undergoes erection work on the launch pad at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do, on October 6.
The launch time for South Korea's space launch vehicle Nuri has been finalized for 12:25 PM today (October 7).
The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) held a launch management committee meeting at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do, at 8:00 AM today and made the decision after comprehensively reviewing technical preparations, weather conditions, the space environment, and the possibility of collisions with space objects.
Nuri was transported to the pad and erected yesterday morning, and all technical preparations, including connecting the umbilical lines to charge fuel and oxidizer and conducting airtightness checks, have been completed.
In addition, extra tasks such as connecting the igniter for umbilical separation and removing unnecessary components for flight were carried out until 11:30 PM.
KASA stated that sensors and equipment on the launch vehicle and launch pad have been checked starting from 5:00 AM today, and launch preparations are proceeding normally according to the scheduled timeline.
Weather conditions are also expected to be clear and cloudless at the time of launch, with temperature, precipitation, and barometric pressure all satisfying the launch criteria.
Winds are also favorable, with an average ground wind speed of 2 meters per second and a peak gust of 5 meters per second. Upper-level winds also meet the launch conditions, and the possibility of lightning has been ruled out.
It was also determined that there are no impacts from the space environment, such as solar flare activity, and no possibility of collisions with space objects such as the International Space Station (ISS).
KASA Administrator Oh Tae-seok said, "The weather conditions confirmed so far fully satisfy the weather conditions required for the launch of Nuri."
KASA judged that the space environment conditions resulting from solar activity, such as solar flares, particle influx, and geomagnetic and ionospheric disturbances, are not at a level that would affect the launch of Nuri.
It was also found that there is no possibility of a collision between Nuri's flight path and trackable space objects, including the International Space Station (ISS), operational satellites, and space debris.
Accordingly, KASA and KARI will begin propellant (fuel and oxidizer) loading, a major procedure for the launch of Nuri, at around 9:40 AM today, complete fuel loading at around 10:50 AM, and finish oxidizer loading by 11:25 AM.
Nuri will enter Pre-Launch Operation (PLO) at 12:15 PM, 10 minutes prior to launch.
If any abnormalities are detected during automatic operations, the launch will be automatically aborted.
KASA Administrator Oh Tae-seok said, "All preparations are proceeding smoothly so far," adding, "We will do our utmost to ensure that the remaining procedures until the final moment of launch proceed without a hitch."
(Photo: Provided by Korea Aerospace Research Institute, Yonhap News)
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