Nuri (rocket)
Nuri (Korean: 누리; Korean pronunciation: [nuriː], meaning "world" in native Korean), also known as KSLV-II (Korean Space Launch Vehicle-II), is a three-stage launch vehicle, the second one developed by South Korea and the successor to Naro-1 (KSLV-1). Nuri is developed by Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). All three stages use indigenously developed launch vehicle engines, making Nuri the first indigenously developed South Korean orbital launch vehicle (the Naro-1 launch vehicle used a Russian-made first stage).
KSLV-II Nuri launching from the Launch Pad 2 at Naro Space Center, 21 October 2021. | |
| Function | Orbital launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer |
|
| Country of origin | South Korea |
| Project cost | ₩ 1.96 trillion; US$1.7 billion (spaceport included) |
| Size | |
| Height | 47.2 m (155 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.5 m (11 ft) |
| Mass | 200,000 kg (440,000 lb) |
| Stages | 3 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO (200 km) | |
| Mass | 3,300 kg (7,300 lb) |
| Payload to SSO (500 km) | |
| Mass | 2,200 kg (4,900 lb) |
| Payload to SSO (700 km) | |
| Mass | 1,900 kg (4,200 lb) |
| Payload to GTO | |
| Mass | 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Launch sites | Naro Space Center, LC-2 |
| Total launches | 3 |
| Success(es) | 2 |
| Failure(s) | 1 |
| Notable outcome(s) | 0 |
| First flight | 21 October 2021, 08:00 UTC |
| Last flight | 25 May 2023, 09:24 UTC (Active) |
| Type of passengers/cargo | Dummy satellite |
| First stage | |
| Height | 21.6 m (71 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.5 m (11 ft) |
| Powered by | 4 KRE-075 SL |
| Maximum thrust | 2,942 kN (661,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 261.7 seconds (Sea level), 298.6 seconds (Vacuum) |
| Burn time | 127 seconds |
| Propellant | Jet A / LOX |
| Second stage | |
| Diameter | 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) |
| Powered by | 1 KRE-075 Vacuum |
| Maximum thrust | 788 kN (177,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 315.4 seconds (Vacuum) |
| Burn time | 148 seconds |
| Propellant | Jet A / LOX |
| Third stage | |
| Height | 3.5 m (11 ft) |
| Diameter | 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) |
| Powered by | 1 KRE-007 Vacuum |
| Maximum thrust | 68.7 kN (15,400 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 325.1 seconds (Vacuum) |
| Burn time | 498 seconds |
| Propellant | LOX / Jet A-1 |
The South Korean government has set SpaceX as a "role model", striving to develop relatively cheap and reliable rockets competitive enough for the commercial launch market.
On 21 October 2021, Nuri made its initial orbital launch attempt at 08:00 UTC and it launched a 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) dummy satellite payload into what was planned to be a 700 km (430 mi) Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). However, despite the payload reaching the targeted apogee (700 km), the third stage shut down about 46 seconds earlier than planned and the payload did not achieve orbital speed.
Nuri made its second flight on 21 June 2022, 07:00 UTC, with a payload of 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) including a 1,300 kg (2,900 lb) dummy satellite payload and a 180 kg (400 lb) performance verification satellite (PVSAT) including four cube satellites. The second launch was successful, putting all the satellites onto the 700 km (430 mi) Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). As a result of this launch, South Korea became the seventh country in the world with the ability to put a satellite with a mass of at least one ton, into orbit.
After the two test launches, Nuri showed higher than expected performance, increasing its payload from 1,500 kg (3,300 Ib) to 1,900 kg (4,200 Ib).