South Korea’s Nuri Rocket: A New Era in Space Exploration

The Nuri rocket launched from Naro Space Center on November 27. This 47-meter rocket successfully delivered the CAS500-3 Earth-observation satellite and 12 CubeSats into orbit. CAS500-3 (Compact Advanced Satellite 500 3) will be positioned in a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 600 kilometers. Weighing 500 kilograms, the satellite aims to study polar auroras and atmospheric phenomena known as “airglow.” Additionally, CAS500-3 will assist in researching magnetic fields and plasma, as reported by KASA. The 12 CubeSats, launched alongside, were provided by various companies, academic and research institutions for diverse orbital tasks. Photo: KARI The three-stage Nuri rocket is the first South Korean launch vehicle developed entirely in the country. The previous rocket, Naro-1, reached orbit but used a modified Russian Angara rocket as its first stage. Nuri’s first launch in October 2021 was unsuccessful, but subsequent launches in June 2022 and May 2023 were successful, continuing this success streak.

South Korea is planning further advancements in their space technology, with future Nuri launches expected to carry heavier payloads and possibly cooperate in international science missions. With a strategic expansion into space exploration, South Korea aims to cement its status as a key player in the global space race.