Nuri rocket deploys five NEONSAT satellites; reports differ on one cubesat
Version 2: The Nuri rocket launched and the five NEONSAT satellites separated successfully, and outlets now differ on whether all 15 satellites aboard separated, with one report saying the cube satellite 퍼샛-02 failed to separate and another saying all 15 deployed.
In short
The Nuri rocket's fifth flight launched on Oct 7 from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, and its main payload, five NEONSAT cluster satellites, separated successfully, according to Newsis and Seoul Economic Daily. Newsis reported that 14 of the 15 satellites aboard separated and that the cube satellite 퍼샛-02 did not, while Seoul Shinmun reported that all 15 separated. The five NEONSAT units 2–6 were built under a KAIST-led project; each weighs under 100 kg and is designed for 1 m black-and-white and 4 m color imagery.
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The Nuri rocket's fifth flight carried five NEONSAT cluster satellites into orbit after launching from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, on Oct 7. Seoul Economic Daily reported at 12:41 local time that the five main-payload NEONSAT satellites separated successfully, and Newsis reported that all five separated and that deployment of the main payload was completed. [ 4 , 5 ]
The reports differed on the rest of the payload. Newsis reported that 14 of the 15 satellites aboard separated normally and that the cube satellite 퍼샛-02 did not separate. Park Jong-chan, a team leader, said at a briefing that of the ten cube satellites, nine separated while 퍼샛-02 did not, adding that the rocket sent the separation signal to 퍼샛-02 normally. Seoul Shinmun reported at 13:15 that all 15 satellites separated, including the first cluster satellites. The documents do not reconcile the two accounts. [ 4 , 6 ]
KAIST had said on Oct 6 that NEONSAT units 2–6 would launch as the main payload of the Nuri rocket's fifth flight from the Naro Space Center, with the launch window set for 12:23 to 13:23 local time and the exact time to be fixed on the day, according to Yonhap and Asia Economy. Chosun Ilbo carried the same plan, citing KAIST. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Each satellite weighs under 100 kg and is designed for Earth observation, able to take black-and-white imagery at 1 m resolution and color imagery at 4 m, KAIST said. Ten cube satellites flew as secondary payloads, including KAIST's Jibisat, which is to survey the low Earth orbit space environment. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Under the plan, five more satellites, units 7–11, would launch on the Nuri rocket's sixth flight next year to complete a cluster of ten mass-produced satellites. KAIST says the completed cluster could image the Korean Peninsula more than three times a day and re-image the same location within 24 hours during disasters or emergencies, and describes the project as South Korea's first development of practical, mass-produced cluster satellites. [ 1 , 3 ]
KAIST's Satellite Research Institute leads the project overall, including satellite system development; the Korea Aerospace Research Institute is responsible for the ground system for cluster operations and for image calibration, correction and utilization systems, while Satrec Initiative took part in developing the satellite bodies and high-resolution optical cameras. The project is supported by the Korea AeroSpace Administration and carried out jointly by industry, academia and research institutes. [ 1 , 3 ]
Han Jae-heung, head of KAIST's Space Research Institute, said the core goal is not simply building one satellite but creating a system in which multiple satellites are produced and verified to the same standard and then operated together in orbit, adding that satellite status and image quality would be checked after launch so cluster observation proceeds as planned. KAIST President Bae Choong-sik called the NEONSAT launch an important step in extending single-satellite development capability to a cluster system and said he hoped it would lead to practical value for disaster response and public safety. KAIST has attached the shared abbreviation “BTS” to the mission names of each phase of the program. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The launch is the first time the KAIST-led project has put production-model cluster satellites in orbit, and five more are planned for the Nuri rocket's sixth flight next year to complete a ten-satellite cluster. KAIST says such a cluster could image the Korean Peninsula more than three times a day and re-image a site within 24 hours during disasters or emergencies, tying the program to disaster response and public safety.
Key facts
- The Nuri rocket's fifth flight carried five NEONSAT cluster satellites (units 2–6) as its main payload and launched from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, on Oct 7. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reported the five NEONSAT satellites separated successfully; Newsis reported the five separated and main payload deployment was completed. [ 4 , 5 ]
- Newsis reported that 14 of the 15 satellites aboard separated normally and that the cube satellite 퍼샛-02 did not separate, while Seoul Shinmun reported that all 15 satellites separated. [ 4 , 6 ]
- Each NEONSAT satellite weighs under 100 kg and is designed to image Earth with 1 m resolution in black and white and 4 m in color, according to KAIST. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Ten cube satellites flew as secondary payloads, including KAIST's Jibisat, which is to survey the low Earth orbit space environment. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Five more satellites, units 7–11, are to launch on the Nuri rocket's sixth flight next year, completing a ten-satellite cluster that KAIST says could image the Korean Peninsula more than three times a day and re-image the same spot within 24 hours in emergencies. [ 1 , 3 ]
- KAIST's Satellite Research Institute leads the project, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute handles the ground system and image calibration and validation, and Satrec Initiative took part in developing the satellite bodies and high-resolution optical cameras. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Five NEONSAT satellites (units 2–6) flew as the main payload of the Nuri rocket's fifth flight from the Naro Space Center in Goheung on Oct 7. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The five NEONSAT satellites separated successfully after launch. [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Each satellite weighs under 100 kg and is designed for black-and-white imagery at 1 m resolution and color imagery at 4 m, per KAIST. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Ten cube satellites were aboard the same launch as secondary payloads, including KAIST's Jibisat. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The project is led by KAIST's Satellite Research Institute, with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and Satrec Initiative taking part. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether all 15 satellites aboard separated. Newsis reported that 14 of 15 separated and that cube satellite 퍼샛-02 did not, while Seoul Shinmun reported that all 15 separated; the two accounts conflict.
- Why 퍼샛-02 did not separate, if it did not. Newsis says the rocket sent the separation signal to 퍼샛-02 normally but its account is truncated at that point; no outlet gives a cause.
- The operating status and image quality of the five NEONSAT satellites after separation. Pre-launch reports said KAIST would check satellite status and image quality after launch; no post-launch document reports those checks.
- The exact launch time. Pre-launch reports said the window was 12:23–13:23 and that the exact time would be fixed on the day; no document states the actual launch time.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Asia Economy publishes its report on the NEONSAT launch plan, citing KAIST. [ 1 ]
- Chosun Ilbo publishes its report on the planned launch. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap publishes its report on the planned launch, citing KAIST. [ 3 ]
- Start of the announced launch window for the Nuri rocket's fifth flight. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Newsis reports that the five NEONSAT satellites separated and that 14 of 15 satellites aboard separated, citing a briefing by team leader Park Jong-chan. [ 4 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports that the main payload NEONSAT satellites separated successfully. [ 5 ]
- Seoul Shinmun reports that all 15 satellites separated, including the first cluster satellites. [ 6 ]