"Finally to Space" Korean Space Launch Vehicle 'Nuriho' Launches Today

Preparation Status Normal, Propellant Injection Complete, Launch Scheduled for Afternoon
Weather Forecast 'Good', Launch Planned Between 3 PM and 7 PM

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The Korean launch vehicle 'Nuriho,' which will lead South Korea's space independence, is scheduled to be launched on the afternoon of the 21st. The weather conditions are expected to be favorable, with a normal launch anticipated between 3 PM and 7 PM.

According to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), Nuriho is currently mounted and secured on the second launch pad at the Naro Space Center in Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do. KARI will begin preparation work from 9 AM and start launch operations from the control center at 10 AM.

Following this, propellants, namely liquid oxygen (oxidizer) and fuel, will be injected, and from 10 minutes before launch, the automatic launch operation device (PLO) will be activated to begin the countdown. The final launch time is expected to be around 4 PM, provided there are no issues with weather conditions and space observation results. The Ministry of Science and ICT and KARI will hold two launch management committee meetings in the morning and afternoon to review the situation and decide the final launch time.

Safety controls on land, sea, and air will also be enforced. From 10 AM, personnel and vehicle traffic will be prohibited within a 3 km radius of the Naro Space Center. At sea, an area 12 km to the left and right of the flight path will be controlled by the Navy and Coast Guard starting two hours before the scheduled launch time. In the airspace, a 24 km zone on each side of the flight path, extending up to 96 km, will be restricted. Additionally, local governments and fire authorities will prepare for COVID-19 or other disaster situations, wildfires, and explosions.

Oh Seung-hyeop, Head of the Launch Vehicle Propulsion Development Department at KARI, explained at a briefing the previous afternoon, "The launch is scheduled between 3 PM and 7 PM, and a comprehensive analysis of expected weather, the possibility of avoiding space objects, and high-altitude wind analysis is conducted. The launch was confirmed through the launch control committee this afternoon, and the final launch time will be decided through two meetings centered on the Ministry of Science and ICT tomorrow."

Meanwhile, the Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted that the weather near the Naro Space Center would not hinder the launch. After upper-level clouds move southward around dawn, there is a possibility of clouds forming at mid-levels 3 to 5 km high around the scheduled launch time of 4 PM, but the cloud layer is expected to be thin, indicating good weather conditions. The biggest obstacle to the launch vehicle is lightning, but currently, the likelihood of convective clouds formed by mixing of upper and lower atmospheric layers is low.

KARI has set the weather conditions for Nuriho's launch as temperatures between -10°C and 35°C, humidity below 98% (at 25°C), ground wind average speed below 15 to 18 m/s, and maximum instantaneous wind speed between 21 and 25 m/s.