South Korea Plans To Launch Homemade Space Rocket Nuri On October 21

South Korea's Nuri rocket launch station. (Source: Korea Aerospace Research Institute via The Korea Herald)

JAKARTA - If nothing changes, South Korea will launch its first space rocket next month as it is in the final stages of preparation, the Science Ministry said Wednesday.

South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT said the Nuri rocket (KSLV-II), developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), is scheduled to take off on October 21 as scheduled at Naro Space Center, Goheung, 473 kilometers south of Seoul.

Nuri is now installed on the launch pad for a propellant recharging test, known as wet dress rehearsal, to check its system in extreme climatic conditions, the ministry said, citing the Korea Times September 29.

The ministry said it set the initial launch period from October 22-28 taking into account the possibility of changing the schedule depending on weather conditions.

Ginseng country has invested about 2 trillion won or about 1.8 billion US dollars in the project since 2010. Last June, a test model rocket was launched.

The Nuri rocket, which weighs about 200 tonnes, will carry a mock payload of 1.5 tonnes for an October launch, before launching with a 200-kilogram satellite and 1.3-ton mock payload on May 19 next year.

The rocket, which consists of three parts, uses four 75-ton liquid engines in the first stage, 75-ton liquid engines in the second stage, and 7-ton liquid engines in the third stage.

In 2013, South Korea successfully launched its first Naro space rocket, but the first stage was built in Russia.

Meanwhile, citing The Korea Herald June 1, Nuri has undergone various changes in development over the years, such as changes in the first-stage assembly process and delays in acquiring spare parts, prompting South Korea last year to delay its launch which was originally set for February this year.

The country's rocket development program had previously been limited by missile guidelines from the United States, which were originally imposed in 1979. However, the two countries agreed to lift the restrictions at a summit last May, ensuring full autonomy in South Korea's efforts to develop space launch vehicles.

South Korea has recently strengthened its space program, creating a new think tank for conducting space-related research to offer guidance for the country's space development policies, as well as private sector efforts.