Korea Aerospace Administration Accelerates Preparations for Fifth Nuriho Launch

Stage Assembly for the Fifth Nuriho Flight Model to Begin in June
Simultaneous Assembly of the Fourth and Fifth Units

Preparations for the fifth launch of the Nuriho are now in full swing.

The Korea Aerospace Administration, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, and Hanwha Aerospace?the system integrator for Nuriho?held a kick-off review meeting for the stage assembly of the fifth flight model for the Nuriho’s fifth launch on May 26 at Hanwha Aerospace’s Daejeon R&D Campus.

Nuriho 4th Unit Stage Assembly Site. The left is the 1st stage assembly, and the right is the 2nd stage assembly. Provided by Korea Aerospace Research Institute

During this meeting, participants reviewed the readiness for the stage assembly of the fifth Nuriho flight model and discussed subsequent action items. In particular, they comprehensively examined the overall assembly procedures and plans for launch preparation, the delivery status of launch vehicle components, assembly jigs and equipment, as well as quality assurance and safety management plans.

Currently, stage assembly for the fourth flight model (pictured) has been underway since October last year at the launch vehicle integration building inside the Naro Space Center. Stage assembly for the fourth Nuriho launch is in full progress, and the assembly for the fourth unit is expected to be completed around August.

Based on the results of this kick-off review meeting for the fifth flight model, the Korea Aerospace Administration plans to begin stage assembly for the fifth unit starting in June. Assembly and testing will be conducted in close coordination to ensure the uninterrupted supply of Nuriho, which is scheduled for annual launches through 2027.

Preparations for the satellites to be loaded onto the fifth Nuriho launch are also proceeding smoothly. The main payload, the ultra-small cluster satellites 2 to 6, are undergoing body assembly and testing as planned. The sub-payloads, which are CubeSats developed by universities, research institutes, and industry, have completed the selection process and are now under accelerated development for integration.

The fifth Nuriho launch is expected to play a key role in expanding Korea’s entry into the domestic and international launch service markets through public satellite launches, as well as supporting the in-orbit verification of various private CubeSats, thereby contributing significantly to the development of domestic space technology and the creation of a related industrial ecosystem.

Park Jaeseong, Head of Space Transportation at the Korea Aerospace Administration, stated, "This meeting was an important opportunity to check the stage assembly readiness for Nuriho and to discuss follow-up plans." He added, "Since the assembly of both the fourth and fifth Nuriho units is proceeding simultaneously, we will rigorously manage risks such as assembly quality, workplace safety, and schedule compliance to ensure that the fourth and fifth launches proceed without any issues."