"Tears of the Unsung Heroes Who 'Never Gave Up Despite Being Despised by Russia' [Nuriho Success]"

Research Team Including Goh Jeong-hwan, KARI Director, Reaps 30 Years of Achievements

The Korean launch vehicle Nuriho (KSLV-II), designed and manufactured entirely with domestic technology, is mounted on the launch pad at Naro Space Center in Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, awaiting launch after final inspections on the second launch day, the 21st. Unlike the first launch, which carried only a non-functional dummy satellite, this second launch of Nuriho includes a performance verification satellite and four CubeSats. 2022.6.21 Goheung - Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] "After 30 years of effort, the light has finally shone. The path to space with our technology has opened. This is just the beginning."

The researchers of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) Korea Launch Vehicle Development Project Headquarters, the main players in the development of Nuriho, and over 500 engineers embraced each other in emotion at the success of the Nuriho launch. Ko Jeong-hwan, head of KARI who oversaw the Nuriho project, choked up saying, "I will never forget the moment when Nuriho separated the performance verification satellite," as the long-awaited moment arrived. The 250 personnel across 5 departments and 16 teams, who had worked for decades for technological independence, were speechless and shed tears at the moment of fruition.

Goh Jeong-hwan, Head of the Korea-type Launch Vehicle Development Project Headquarters (from left), Oh Seung-hyeop, Head of the Launch Vehicle Propulsion System Development Department, Han Young-min, Head of the Launch Vehicle Engine Development Department

Ko, who joined KARI in 2000, was in charge of developing the liquid-propellant scientific rocket (KSR-III) and participated in the development of Naroho (KSLV-I) in collaboration with Russia from August 2002. Naroho succeeded in its third launch in January 2013. He was involved from the early stages of Nuriho development and led the project as commander for seven years. Jang Young-soon, head of the Launch System Development Department, Oh Seung-hyup, head of the Launch Vehicle Propulsion System Development Department, and Han Young-min, head of the Launch Vehicle Engine Development Department, are also figures who endured hardships together from the early days of Nuriho development.

The process of developing a 75-ton liquid engine solely with domestic technology was a series of setbacks and retries. Ko recalled, "Because our technology was lacking, we were even looked down upon by Russia, but we kept challenging ourselves," adding, "We changed the design dozens of times due to combustion instability in the liquid engine and, after relentless effort, developed the 75-ton class liquid engine."

The research team will not rest on this success and is embarking on new challenges. Jang explained, "The third vehicle was developed as a backup model in case there were problems during the first and second flight tests," and added, "The current goal for completing individual assembly is the end of December, and with the success of the second launch, the third launch will correspond to the first launch of the Korean launch vehicle advancement project." He continued, "The satellite to be loaded is the next-generation small satellite No. 2; the timing is not yet decided but is expected around early next year."

The ultra-small CubeSats onboard Nuriho were created by graduate students from four universities: KAIST, Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Chosun University. Once the satellite reaches orbit, the CubeSats will separate at two-day intervals and carry out their respective missions. They said, "When we were middle school students in 2013, watching the launch of Naroho, we dreamed of participating in approaching space," and added, "We are deeply moved to be able to take even a small step together."