Nuri rocket countdown begins; 14 of 15 satellites reported separated
Version 2: New coverage adds an evening report that about 1,000 people counted down together and expressed pride in the domestically built rocket; the reported failure of one cubesat to separate remains unconfirmed by any other outlet.
In short
South Korea's Nuri rocket entered automatic launch operation at 12:15 p.m. local time on October 7, ten minutes before a scheduled 12:25 p.m. liftoff from the Naro Space Center in Goheung carrying 15 satellites. Newsis reported after the flight that 14 of the 15 satellites separated normally and that the cubesat PERSAT-02 did not, with a team leader saying 9 of 10 cubesats were released. Seoul Shinmun reported that about 1,000 people counted down together and quoted a spectator expressing pride in the domestically built rocket.
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The fifth Nuri rocket entered automatic launch operation (PLO) at 12:15 p.m. local time on October 7 at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, beginning a ten-minute countdown, according to Kyunghyang Shinmun, Newsis, Yonhap and Korea Economic Daily. Kyunghyang Shinmun said PLO uses computers to check the rocket automatically and that preparations stop immediately if an anomaly is found. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that the rocket was to climb to about 570 km and release a total of 15 satellites, and that liftoff was scheduled for 12:25 p.m. Korea Economic Daily reported in short breaking updates that withdrawal of the rocket's erection device had been completed. [ 1 , 5 ]
Newsis carried a briefing on the separation of the payload: 14 of the 15 satellites separated normally, while the cubesat PERSAT-02 did not. Team leader Park Jong-chan said there were 10 cubesats in total and that nine separated, with PERSAT-02 the one that did not, according to Newsis, which added that Nuri sent PERSAT-02 a normal separation signal. No other document in the set confirms the separation outcome. [ 2 ]
In the evening, Seoul Shinmun reported that about 1,000 people counted down together, quoting a person who said they were thrilled by a rocket built with the country's own technology. The outlet's feed carried the headline but no article text. [ 6 ]
Among the other outlets, Asia Economy's headline also reported the start of automatic operation, but its available article text contained only unrelated stories. The official-tier outlet Yonhap carried only a one-line breaking headline that the automatic operation and ten-minute countdown had begun. [ 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The flight is the fifth Nuri launch and is meant to place 15 satellites into orbit, an indicator of South Korea's domestic launch capability. The reported failure of one cubesat to separate, if confirmed, would be a partial shortfall in an otherwise completed deployment. No document carries an official statement on the overall outcome of the mission.
Key facts
- Automatic launch operation (PLO) for the Nuri rocket began at 12:15 p.m. local time, ten minutes before the scheduled liftoff. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Liftoff was scheduled for 12:25 p.m. from the Naro Space Center in Goheung. [ 1 ]
- The rocket was to carry a total of 15 satellites. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Nuri was to rise to about 570 km before releasing the satellites. [ 1 ]
- Newsis reported that 14 of the 15 satellites separated normally and that the cubesat PERSAT-02 did not separate. [ 2 ]
- Park Jong-chan, a team leader, said at a briefing that there were 10 cubesats in total and that 9 separated, with PERSAT-02 the one that did not. [ 2 ]
- Korea Economic Daily reported that withdrawal of the rocket's erection device had been completed. [ 5 ]
- Seoul Shinmun reported that about 1,000 people counted down together and quoted a person saying they were thrilled by a rocket made with the country's own technology. [ 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the fifth Nuri launch as a whole succeeded. No document carries an official statement on the overall result of the launch.
- The separation failure of the cubesat PERSAT-02. Reported only by Newsis, citing a team leader's briefing; no other document confirms it.
- Why PERSAT-02 did not separate. The documents say a separation signal was sent but give no cause.
- Whether the Nuri rocket lifted off at the scheduled 12:25 p.m. time. The documents give the planned time but none states the actual liftoff time; Seoul Shinmun's headline implies a shared countdown but carries no article text.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Automatic launch operation begins for the Nuri rocket, starting a ten-minute countdown. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Korea Economic Daily reports the rocket's erection device withdrawal has been completed. [ 5 ]
- Scheduled liftoff time from the Naro Space Center. [ 1 ]
- Seoul Shinmun reports that about 1,000 people counted down together and voiced pride in the domestically built rocket. [ 6 ]