Nuri’s Pre-Dawn Liftoff Signals New Phase in South Korea’s Space Ambitions

GOHEUNG, South Korea, Nov. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s homegrown space ambitions took another decisive step forward early Thursday, when its Nuri rocket rose from a seaside launchpad on the nation’s southern coast and carried 13 satellites into orbit — a predawn ascent that officials hailed as a milestone for the country’s growing private-sector space ecosystem.

The 200-ton launcher lifted off from the Naro Space Center in Goheung at 1:13 a.m., after a brief delay caused by a sensor issue. Forty-two minutes later, the mission’s main payload — the CAS500-3 satellite — established communication with King Sejong Station in Antarctica, confirming its health and placing the launch squarely in the success column.

“The fourth launch of Nuri was successful,” Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon told reporters at the site. The achievement, he added, marked “an important turning point,” signaling the country’s shift from a government-led model toward a private-sector–driven space industry. Seoul, he said, intends to press forward in its bid to join the world’s top five space powers.

Yoon Young-bin, head of the newly established Korea AeroSpace Administration, echoed that message, casting the launch as part of a long-term national effort to fortify South Korea’s place in future space exploration.

President Lee Jae Myung praised the moment online, calling it “a new chapter” in the nation’s space history.

A Mission That Unfolded in Minutes

The rocket’s ascent followed the choreography of South Korea’s recent launches. Two minutes after liftoff, the first stage separated; the second stage followed several minutes later. After reaching an altitude of roughly 600 kilometers, Nuri released the CAS500-3 along with a dozen cube satellites before concluding its 18-minute mission and beginning its fall back toward Earth.

The CAS500-3 — built by Korea Aerospace Industries and derived from the platform of the earlier CAS500 series — will conduct atmospheric research and aurora observations, and carry out advanced experiments including 3-D stem cell growth using bio-printing technology.

Space authorities said the satellite will continue to be tracked from ground stations in Daejeon and Norway in the coming days.

A Program Maturing in Public View

The launch is the fourth for Nuri, known formally as the KSLV-II. South Korea first attempted to place a satellite into orbit with the rocket in 2021, falling just short. A successful mission followed in 2022, and another in 2023 carried a new generation of small satellites into space.

This latest flight was notable for another reason: it was the first in which Hanwha Aerospace, a major defense and technology firm, oversaw the rocket’s entire assembly — a handoff widely seen as the vanguard of Seoul’s effort to transfer state-developed space technologies to private industry.

Future launches will further expand Hanwha’s role. Officials said the company will take on more responsibilities during the fifth and sixth missions in 2026 and 2027, with the government preparing to shift to a privately managed launch system thereafter.

By 2028, South Korea hopes to begin annual launches, backed by new funding now under consideration.

Awe on the Ground

Hundreds of people gathered near the launch site for a rare overnight viewing, erupting in cheers as the rocket pierced the darkness over the sea, its plume illuminating the coastline.

“It was overwhelming,” said Park Sung-wook, 40, who had driven in from Dangjin with his young son. “We waited since mid-afternoon yesterday. It was absolutely worth it.”

Some had worried the nighttime launch would obscure the view. Instead, said Kim Do-yun, a 22-year-old college student who came with friends, “it was even clearer than I expected — surprisingly so.”

Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)