Korean Launch Vehicle 'Nuriho' to be Launched Twice Next Year

Nuriho 1st Stage Entered System Development Model (EM) Phase / Korea Aerospace Research Institute

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Junho] The space launch vehicle 'Nuriho,' developed purely with South Korea's own technology, is scheduled to be launched twice next year, in February and October.

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) revealed the current status of Nuriho (KSLV-II) development on the 15th and announced this plan.

Nuriho is a three-stage space launch vehicle capable of placing a 1.5-ton class satellite into low Earth orbit (600?800 km). From 2010 to March 2022, a total of 1.9572 trillion KRW has been invested.

Active Development at Each Stage of Nuriho

Graphic representation of the Nuri rocket launch / Korea Aerospace Research Institute

The development work has been carried out for each stage from the first to the third. KARI is developing a system development model (EM) or qualification model (QM) for each stage. Assembly of the flight model (FM) will begin in the second half of this year. The development stages of Nuriho proceed in the order of system development model → qualification model → flight model. Components including engines are developed and assembled, then performance is tested; if the results meet the specifications, the flight model is produced and launched.

Nuriho uses 75-ton class engines and 7-ton class engines. The 75-ton class engine, mounted on the first and second stages, passed flight performance tests through a test launch vehicle in November 2018. A total of 138 combustion tests were conducted for the 75-ton class engine. The cumulative combustion test time is approximately 13,065 seconds. The 7-ton class engine is used in the third stage, and a total of 77 combustion tests (with a cumulative combustion test time of 12,325.7 seconds) have been conducted.

In the second half of this year, assembly of the first stage, which has the greatest thrust in Nuriho, will begin. A comprehensive combustion test will be conducted with four 75-ton class engines clustered together. The thrust of the first stage is 300 tons. The second stage must have 75-ton thrust, and the third stage must have 7-ton thrust.

Second Launch Pad to be Completed in October

The second launch pad, from which Nuriho will be launched, will be completed at the Naro Space Center in October.

Unlike the Naro launch pad, the second launch pad supplies propellant to Nuriho. It will also be constructed with an umbilical tower (height 45.6 m) that allows launch preparations to be performed while the launch vehicle is in a vertical position. The second launch pad is also being built with South Korean technology, and once completed, Nuriho's qualification model will be erected on the launch pad to perform a final verification of the launch pad's functions. Naroho is a two-stage space launch vehicle developed through Korea-Russia cooperation (insertion altitude 300 km, satellite payload 100 kg) and was launched in January 2013.

Choi Won-ho, Director of the Large-scale Public Research Policy Division at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "To independently develop the country's first space launch vehicle, KARI and related industries are overcoming numerous challenges with full effort. This year is a crucial year for core research and development ahead of the 2021 launch, and the government will provide active support."