South Korea sends satellites in orbit with successful fourth rocket launch

South Korea successfully launched its fourth Nuri space rocket, deploying more than a dozen artificial satellites on Thursday, marking a significant milestone for the country’s space program.

The manufacturing and rocket integration of the latest launch were primarily led by the local company Hanwha Aerospace, using technology transferred from the government.

The country started the Nuri rocket program in 2021 initially, and the latest developments helped them to achieve the mission successfully.

A live stream by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute on social media showed an intriguing glimpse of a rocket ascending into the night sky from its launchpad in Goheung.

In this connection, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said in a message shared on social media, “This is the first time private companies have participated in the entire process.”

“As we have embarked on the journey of independence and technology, I believe it will be the cornerstone for future generations,” he further added.

It has been observed that a Nuri rocket lifted off from Naro Space Center on the southern coast of South Korea at 1:13 a.m.

According to South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT, the prime commercial-grade satellite and 12 other cube satellites were successfully deployed in orbit.

Shares in Hanwha Aerospace and HD Hyundai Heavy were both up to 1.6% in Thursday morning trade, outpacing the wider market’s 1.1% rise.

South Korea plans to test-launch a total of six rockets by 2027. 

 The recent launch concluded the validation phase of the Nuri program, officially beginning the era of private sector capability buildup in the space sector and enhancing the company’s role in the aerospace industry.