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South Korea Launches 15 Satellites with Nuri Rocket in Major Space Milestone
M
Moneycontrol•07-10-2026, 13:51
South Korea Launches 15 Satellites with Nuri Rocket in Major Space Milestone
- •South Korea successfully completed the fifth flight of its KSLV-II Nuri rocket, carrying 15 satellites into a 575-kilometre sun-synchronous orbit.
- •The payload included five NEONSAT microsatellites for Earth observation and disaster monitoring over the Korean Peninsula, alongside 10 research CubeSats.
- •Nine of the 10 CubeSats and all five NEONSAT satellites were successfully deployed, though PERSAT-02 experienced a separation failure.
- •The mission raised Nuri's overall launch success rate to 80 percent and tested the rocket's multi-satellite deployment capabilities for future constellations.
- •South Korea aims to conduct regular domestic launches through 2032 to build an independent space-launch and satellite ecosystem.
Key Questions Answered
The Nuri rocket carried 15 satellites into orbit, consisting of five NEONSAT microsatellites and 10 CubeSats. While all five NEONSAT satellites and nine CubeSats were successfully deployed, the PERSAT-02 CubeSat failed to separate from the rocket.
The five NEONSAT microsatellites are designed for Earth observation using optical cameras to monitor the Korean Peninsula. Their observations will support applications such as disaster monitoring and national security.
South Korea aims to build an independent space-launch and satellite capability, moving toward more regular launches through 2032. The objective is to strengthen domestic launch capabilities, improve rocket reliability, and reduce dependence on foreign rockets.
