South Korea's Nuri rocket succeeds in fifth launch, satellites deployed
In short
South Korea's domestically developed Nuri rocket launched at 12:25 local time from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do, and its fifth mission succeeded, the Korea AeroSpace Administration said. The rocket carried five Earth observation satellites, which entered their planned orbits, and ten CubeSats, according to the agency. It was the fourth consecutive success since the rocket's first launch failed in 2021, and South Korea plans a sixth launch in the second half of 2027.
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South Korea's domestically developed Nuri rocket carried out its fifth launch on 7 October and the mission succeeded, the Korea AeroSpace Administration said. Agency chief Oh Tae-sik told a briefing that the rocket lifted off at 12:25 local time as planned from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do, and that the five Earth observation satellites it carried all entered their planned orbits. [ 2 , 4 ]
The rocket also carried ten CubeSats, according to the agency chief's account. A separate Jiemian report, citing Xinhua, said the launch succeeded and that all 15 satellites the rocket carried separated successfully; the documents that describe the payload in detail confirm the five Earth observation satellites reached their planned orbits but do not state the outcome for the CubeSats. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
According to the agency, the flight was the fourth consecutive success for Nuri since its first launch in 2021 failed to place a test satellite in orbit. IT Home described Nuri as a three-stage rocket weighing about 200 tonnes that can send a 1.5-tonne satellite to an orbit 600 to 800 km above the ground, and recalled that the October 2021 debut did not put its model satellite into the intended orbit. [ 2 , 4 ]
South Korea plans to carry out Nuri's sixth launch in the second half of 2027, with the same main task of placing five Earth observation satellites into orbit, Oh said. [ 2 , 4 ]
The launch drew quick coverage. Jiemian's first item, attributed to Xinhua, appeared at 15:22 local time; its second, attributed to CCTV News, reported the agency briefing at 16:52. Xinhua published its own headline on the launch at 17:07, and IT Home followed at 18:06, citing CCTV News. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The launch is reported as another success for South Korea's domestically developed launch vehicle, following a first attempt in 2021 that failed to place a test satellite in orbit. A further flight is already planned for the second half of 2027 with the same main payload type, indicating the programme is being treated as recurring rather than experimental. The documents give no wider assessment of the programme beyond the launch itself.
Key facts
- The Korea AeroSpace Administration said the Nuri rocket's fifth launch succeeded on 7 October. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The rocket lifted off at 12:25 local time from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do. [ 2 , 4 ]
- It carried five Earth observation satellites, which entered their planned orbits, and ten CubeSats. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Jiemian reported that all satellites carried on the rocket separated successfully, citing Xinhua. [ 1 ]
- The flight was the fourth consecutive success since the rocket's first launch failed in 2021. [ 2 , 4 ]
- A sixth Nuri launch is planned for the second half of 2027, with the same task of placing five Earth observation satellites in orbit. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Nuri is a three-stage rocket weighing about 200 tonnes that can send a 1.5-tonne satellite to an orbit 600 to 800 km above the ground, according to IT Home. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Nuri rocket's fifth launch succeeded. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The launch took place on 7 October at 12:25 local time from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Five Earth observation satellites were carried and entered their planned orbits. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Ten CubeSats were also carried on the flight. [ 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The status of the ten CubeSats after launch. Documents 2 and 4 say the rocket carried five Earth observation satellites and ten CubeSats, but only state that the five Earth observation satellites entered their planned orbits; the CubeSats' deployment or orbit is not described. Document 1, citing Xinhua, says all 15 satellites separated successfully, a broader claim than the other documents support in detail.
- Xinhua's report carries only a headline in the material available. Document 3 has no article text or summary beyond its title, so its detail cannot be compared with the other outlets.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The Nuri rocket lifts off from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do, according to the Korea AeroSpace Administration. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Jiemian publishes a Xinhua-sourced report that the fifth launch succeeded and the satellites it carried separated. [ 1 ]
- Jiemian reports the space agency chief's briefing, including the successful orbit insertion of five Earth observation satellites and the plan for a 2027 sixth launch. [ 2 ]
- Xinhua publishes its report on the fifth launch. [ 3 ]
- IT Home publishes its account, citing CCTV News and adding rocket specifications and the 2021 failure. [ 4 ]