Preliminary launch date set for May 25-May 31
The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) held a Nuri
Launch Management Committee on 11th April to comprehensively review
the preparations for the third launch of Nuri and decided May 24, 2023 as the
scheduled launch date, with an estimated launch time of 18:24.
The committee
carefully reviewed the preparations for the third launch of Nuri, the satellite
payload schedule, the final test plan, and the launch conditions (weather,
space environment, and possible space object collisions) to determine the
scheduled launch date (May 24), and set a backup launch date (May 25 to May 31)
in consideration of possible schedule changes due to weather. In addition,
considering the orbit (altitude of 550 kilometers) of the main satellite, Next
Generation Small Satellite 2, which will perform its mission (verification of
imaging radar technology and observation of cosmic radiation in near-Earth
orbit), the scheduled launch time was confirmed as 18:24 (±30 minutes).
The Commission
has inspected the launch preparations, and currently, Nuri has completed the
assembly of the first and second stages and is conducting various performance
tests, while the eight satellites* that will be carried on the third stage are
undergoing final environmental tests. The satellites are scheduled to be
delivered to the Naro Space Cener between May 1 and 2, and will be assembled in
the third stage and integrated with the first and second stages over a period
of about three weeks.
*
(Main payload, 1st stage) Next Generation Small Satellite No. 2
(Subsatellites,
7 units) Toyosat (4 units), JSTEC (1 unit), LUMIR (1 unit), Kairos Space (1
unit)
"The
third launch of Nuri is of great significance as it is the first attempt to
launch a commercial-grade satellite and the first time a private company will jointly
manufacture the homegrown Nuri rocket," said Oh Tae-seok, First Vice
Minister of Science and Technology. "The Korea Aerospace Research
Institute, Hanwha Aerospace, and related industries are all doing their utmost
to prepare for the launch, and MSIT will do their best to ensure a successful
launch."
For further information, please contact
the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4033, E-mail: yunay@korea.kr)
of the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Please refer to the attached PDF.