Nuri rocket reaches 575 km target orbit; one of 15 satellites fails to separate
In short
South Korea's Nuri rocket reached its target orbit at an altitude of 575 km after its third-stage engine shut down normally, the national space agency chief said. Newsis reported that 14 of the 15 satellites on board separated normally, and that the cube satellite Perseus-02 did not separate. No cause for the failed separation was given.
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South Korea's Nuri rocket reached its target orbit at an altitude of 575 km on its fifth launch after its third-stage engine shut down normally, according to breaking-news reports from Newsis, Yonhap and Seoul Economic Daily. The head of the national space agency said the rocket reached the target orbit according to planned flight procedures, Yonhap and Asia Economy reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Of the 15 satellites on board, 14 separated normally, Newsis reported, citing a briefing by team leader Park Jong-chan. The satellite that did not separate was the cube satellite Perseus-02; Park said 10 cube satellites flew on the rocket, nine of which separated. Nuri sent a normal separation signal to Perseus-02, according to the report, which did not state why the satellite failed to separate. No other document mentions the satellite or the number of payloads. [ 1 ]
The announcement was carried by both official and business outlets within about half an hour, with Yonhap issuing two flashes and Newsis, Seoul Economic Daily and Asia Economy also reporting the orbit insertion. The text published alongside Asia Economy's report consisted of unrelated news headlines. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The launch is reported as a further orbital success for South Korea's domestic launch vehicle, with the space agency chief confirming the planned flight profile was followed. The failure of one small satellite to separate, reported by a single outlet, points to a remaining technical issue in the payload deployment sequence.
Key facts
- Nuri's fifth launch saw its third-stage engine shut down normally and the rocket reach its target orbit at an altitude of 575 km. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The head of the national space agency said the rocket reached the target orbit according to planned flight procedures. [ 4 , 5 ]
- Newsis reported that 15 satellites were on board and that 14 separated normally. [ 1 ]
- According to Newsis, the cube satellite Perseus-02 did not separate, although a normal separation signal was sent to it. [ 1 ]
- Team leader Park Jong-chan said at a briefing on 7 October that 10 cube satellites flew on the rocket and nine of them separated. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Why the cube satellite Perseus-02 did not separate, and its current status. Newsis, citing a team leader's briefing, said a normal separation signal was sent but gave no cause, and no other document mentions the satellite.
- The number of satellites carried and the 14-of-15 separation count. Reported only by Newsis on the basis of a briefing; the other documents report only the rocket's engine shutdown and orbit insertion.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Newsis reports the third-stage engine shut down normally and the mission altitude of 575 km was reached. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap reports the third-stage engine stop and orbit insertion were confirmed. [ 2 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports Nuri entered its target orbit at an altitude of 575 km. [ 3 ]
- Yonhap quotes the space agency chief saying Nuri reached the target orbit according to planned flight procedures. [ 4 ]
- Asia Economy carries the same statement from the space agency chief. [ 5 ]