"Nuri Launch Success"… 5 Micro Cluster Satellites Placed into Orbit

South Korea's space launch vehicle Nuri successfully completed its mission during its fifth launch on October 7 by placing five micro cluster satellites into their target orbit.

Achieving four consecutive successes since its first launch failure in 2021, Nuri has raised its launch success rate to 80%. By simultaneously deploying five micro satellites into space for the first time, it enhanced its multi-satellite transport capability and launch reliability, moving one step closer to transitioning into a private-led commercial launch service.

The 5th launch of Nuri proceeded smoothly as overall conditions, including weather, were favorable.

Nuri soared into the sky at 12:25 PM today (October 7), the time originally scheduled by the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), carrying 15 satellites in total, including 5 primary micro cluster satellites (Numbers 2 through 6) and 10 cube satellites.

This was the first time that Nuri was launched at its scheduled time.

For the 4th launch, which took off at night, the launch was delayed by about 18 minutes due to a pressure sensor signal abnormality. During the 3rd launch, it was postponed by a day due to a communication glitch between the ground valve control computer and the launch pad facility control computer.

Today, following the separation of the first stage, fairing (satellite protective cover), and second stage, Nuri successfully separated the micro cluster satellites one by one at intervals of 35 to 40 seconds.

The benchmark for the success or failure of Nuri's 5th launch was placing the micro cluster satellites into the target altitude of 570 km within a margin of error of 15 km, and these satellites were separated at 575 to 580 km.

KASA announced that it succeeded in making its first contact with micro cluster satellite No. 6, one of the primary satellites, from the Antarctic Sejong Station at around 1:08 PM today.

It added that starting at 2:00 PM, it plans to communicate with micro cluster satellites Nos. 2 through 5 by utilizing domestic ground stations in Daejeon and Jeju, as well as an overseas ground station in Norway.

Among the 10 cube satellites carried by Nuri, 9 were ejected, excluding 1 satellite developed by Quaternion.

KASA initially stated that all 10 had been separated, but later reversed its statement during a briefing.

With the success of Nuri's 5th launch, "New Space"—where the private sector leads space development—and the commercialization of launch vehicles are expected to accelerate further.

"This is the first time our country has simultaneously placed five micro satellites into space," said Oh Tae-seok, Administrator of KASA, during a briefing today. "Through the successful orbital placement of cluster satellites, we have demonstrated an advanced level of space transport capability capable of performing diverse missions tailored to the orbits and times desired by customers."

This launch is the second mission under the advanced space launch vehicle project of South Korea, evaluated as a turning point that goes beyond verifying Nuri and accelerates the transition to private-led operations.

Unlike the 1st through 3rd launches, where the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) oversaw the manufacturing of Nuri, Hanwha Aerospace oversaw related operations for the 4th and 5th launches.

The 5th launch also saw an increase in the number of private personnel deployed to the preparation and operation processes.

For the 6th launch of Nuri, which KASA plans to conduct in the second half of next year, the stage assembly site will also change from the existing Naro Space Center to the stage assembly plant built by Hanwha Aerospace in Suncheon.

"Just like the 5th launch, the main mission of the 6th launch is to put five micro cluster satellites into space orbit," Administrator Oh said. "We will further enhance reliability by launching Nuri at least once a year through 2032 and pursue the transition to private-led commercial service."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon added that mass production of satellites and cluster operations are the significance of the 5th launch, stating, "We will support Nuri so that its regular launches can continue stably."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.