Early Morning Launch Chosen for Precise Sun-Synchronous Orbit Entry
Countdown Begins at 12:45 a.m. After Fuel and Oxidizer Loading
The fourth launch of the Nuriho is scheduled for 12:55 a.m. on November 27 at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do. Unlike the previous first through third launches, this launch is set for the early morning because it will carry equipment designed to observe auroras and space plasma.
On the afternoon of the 26th, ahead of the fourth launch of the Korean launch vehicle Nuri, the Nuriho stands ready for launch at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do. Provided by Korea Aerospace Research Institute, Yonhap News Agency.
At a briefing held at the Naro Space Center on November 26, Yoon Youngbin, Commissioner of the Korea Aerospace Administration, stated, "The next-generation medium-sized satellite No. 3 is equipped with an aurora observation sensor, so it must enter a sun-synchronous orbit with precision," adding, "For this reason, a launch at 12:55 a.m. is necessary." The sun-synchronous orbit is located about 600 kilometers above the polar regions, and considering the Earth's rotation and Korea's geographic conditions, the launch must be timed for the early morning hours.
The primary payload, the next-generation medium-sized satellite No. 3, is expected to carry out aurora and space plasma observation missions. The Korea Aerospace Administration emphasized, "For aurora observation, the timing of initial orbit entry after launch must be precise."
Currently, weather conditions around the Naro Space Center are favorable, with no strong winds, heavy rainfall, or other factors that could impact the launch. No unusual phenomena, such as solar flare eruptions, have been observed either.
On the afternoon of the 26th, ahead of the launch of the Korean launch vehicle Nuri, visitors are looking out over the coast from the Naro Space Center Observatory in Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do. Photo by Yonhap News
The Korea Aerospace Administration announced at 10:08 p.m. on November 26, via an internal broadcast at the Naro Space Center, that fueling of the Nuriho had begun. The injection of liquid fuel is a procedure carried out immediately before launch after technical checks are completed, and following fuel loading, the oxidizer-liquid oxygen-is injected. These two steps are critical for securing propulsion for the Nuriho's engines. Fueling and oxidizer loading are expected to be completed around midnight.
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute will begin a computer-based countdown at 12:45 a.m. on November 27, ten minutes prior to launch. If no anomalies are detected during the checks, Nuriho will leave the launch pad as scheduled at 12:55 a.m. and embark on its fourth flight.
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