Private Sector Nuriho 4th Launch First Stage Engine, First Combustion Test

Manufactured by comprehensive system company Hanwha Aero
Scheduled for launch in the second half of next year

The first 75-ton class engine for the first stage of the Nuriho 4th launch, developed by the private sector, has begun its initial acceptance combustion test for performance verification.

The Korea Aerospace Administration and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute announced on the 4th that the first-stage engine for the Nuriho 4th launch scheduled for next year has completed assembly and started the acceptance combustion test on the 3rd at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do. The acceptance combustion test is a combustion test conducted to verify the final performance before mounting on the launch vehicle.

This test is for the first unit among the four 75-ton class liquid engines to be mounted on the first-stage flight model (FM). The combustion test is a procedure to confirm whether the engine system operates normally.

This combustion test is significant as it verifies the performance of the first engine directly overseen and produced by the system integration company. Hanwha Aerospace manufactured this engine and shipped it on May 29.

At KARI, after installing the engine shipped by Hanwha Aerospace onto the test facility, they conducted a leak test, valve operation checks, and successfully performed two combustion tests on the 3rd. According to the Korea Aerospace Administration, no visually observable abnormalities occurred during the test. The Korea Aerospace Administration will finalize the engine performance verification through detailed data analysis.

A total of six engines are mounted on the Nuriho. Four 75-ton class engines are clustered on the first stage to secure a total thrust of 300 tons, one 75-ton class engine is mounted on the second stage, and one 7-ton class engine is mounted on the third stage.

Hyun Sung-yoon, Space Transport Mission Design Program Manager at the Korea Aerospace Administration, stated, “Including this engine acceptance combustion test, overall preparations for the Nuriho 4th launch are progressing smoothly,” and added, “With the launch of the Korea Aerospace Administration, we will accelerate the major projects in the space launch vehicle sector.”

The Nuriho 4th launch is scheduled for the second half of 2025. The 5th and 6th launches are planned for 2026 and 2027, respectively.