Cheong "We Have Finally Built a Space Vehicle to Launch Satellites into Low Earth Orbit"

The Blue House Attributes Historical Significance to Nuriho Launch... Despite Possibility of Failure, Dream of Space Era Becomes Reality

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] "You can understand it as finally having created a space vehicle capable of sending reasonably usable satellites to low Earth orbit, where demand is expected to be very high in the future."

A Blue House official said this on the 19th during a meeting with reporters, explaining the historical significance of the launch of the Korean launch vehicle Nuriho (KSLV-II). He evaluated it as "a clearly groundbreaking event compared to the past."

The first launch of Nuriho is known as an attempt to place a 1.5-ton class practical satellite into low Earth orbit at 600 km to 800 km. During the 2013 Naroho launch, it was an experiment to lift 100 kg, so the scale has increased significantly.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Blue House official said, "Satellites going into space are usually communication satellites or reconnaissance satellites," adding, "Reasonably usable satellites that can conduct reconnaissance and send data back to Earth are very heavy. They weigh about 1.5 tons."

The Blue House official explained, "Usually, reconnaissance satellites and communication satellites are often placed in low Earth orbit. In the past five years, thousands of satellites have been launched worldwide, and 70% of them are small low Earth orbit satellites."

The Blue House also acknowledged the possibility of failure in the first Nuriho launch experiment. However, referring to Elon Musk's SpaceX case, the Blue House said, "Space launch vehicles accumulate experience through failures." It explained that the 300 Korean companies participating in the launch experiment will gain know-how through this experiment, which can serve as a foundation for development in preparing the space industry.

They also mentioned the possibility of traveling to the Moon, which can be considered a realm of dreams for us. The Blue House official said, "To go to the Moon, you need to be able to carry at least 20 to 40 tons, up to 100 tons," but added, "It is not about developing a new vehicle ten times the size of Nuriho, but about increasing the launch vehicle capacity gradually to develop larger capacities."

The Blue House official explained, "What the government can do to revitalize the space industry is ultimately to continuously create demand," adding, "Elon Musk's SpaceX was saved from near bankruptcy because NASA placed orders. South Korea also plans to place satellite orders equivalent to ten times the scale of those placed in the past ten years."

The Blue House official said, "In the New Space era, where private companies lead the space industry, I personally think the most important thing is the market," adding, "Until private companies declare that when 6G comes, they will not build base stations on rooftops but use satellites, the government must continue to create demand."

The Blue House official added, "For about ten years, we will create demand, and once companies secure capabilities in launch vehicle and satellite technologies, I think the private sector will have sufficient capabilities and demand will arise thereafter."