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News Release

Unveiling of Nuri, the Korean space launch vehicle being developed indigenously using domestic technology

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  • Registration Date 2020-02-11
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Unveiling of Nuri, the Korean space launch vehicle being developed indigenously using domestic technology
◇ Manufacture of a flight model and testing of engine clustering beginning the second half of this year
◇ Construction of the new Nuri Launch Platform (2nd launch platform) to be completed in October


□ The Ministry of Science and ICT (MIST) and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) disclosed on January 15 the development site of Nuri*, the Korean space launch vehicle (KSLV) being developed indigenously by KARI using domestic technology.

《Development of Nuri (KSLV-II)》
‣ Description: The three-stage launch vehicle that can launch a 1.5-ton utility satellite into the low earth orbit of 600 - 800 km above Earth is scheduled to be launched in February and October 2021.
‣ Project period/budget: March 2010 - March 2022/KRW 1.957 trillion


□ The development of Nuri involves the development of components* including the engine for each of the three stages, assembly and performance test, manufacture of a flight model if the test results meet all specifications, and finally the launch.
* The development sequence is as follows: development of the engineering model (EM) → qualification model (QM) → flight model (FM).

ㅇ KARI is developing an EM or a QM depending on the stage, and it plans to begin the FM assembly in the second half of this year.


□ Nuri uses 75-ton and 7-ton engines. The 75-ton engine was successfully tested for flight performance by launching a test vehicle in November 2018 and is currently being verified for engine reliability through continuous ground combustion tests.

ㅇ As of January 8, 2020, the 75-ton engine in stages 1 and 2 has been tested 138 times for an accumulated combustion test time of 13,065 seconds; the 7-ton engine in stage 3 has been tested 77 times for an accumulated combustion test time of 12,325.7 seconds.

ㅇ In the second half this year, KARI plans to assemble stage 1*, which has the largest thrust, and conduct a comprehensive combustion test by bundling four 75-ton engines (clustering).
* After the clustering of four 75-ton engines, stage 1 of Nuri will have a 300-ton thrust (thrust of stage 1: 300 tons/thrust of stage 2: 75 tons/thrust of stage 3: 7 tons).


□ KARI is constructing the second launch platform at the Naro Space Center, with completion scheduled for October to launch Nuri.

ㅇ Unlike the Naro* Launch Platform, the second launch platform has an umbilical tower (45.6-meter high) that can supply propellants to Nuri and perform preparation for launch with the launch vehicle upright.
* Naro is a two-stage space launch vehicle developed through the Korea-Russia cooperation (injection altitude of 300 km, satellite payload of 100 kg) and successfully launched in January 2013.

ㅇ The second launch platform is also constructed indigenously by the domestic team, and Nuri QM will be erected on the launch platform to confirm the functionality.


□“KARI and cooperating partners are pouring all their energies into overcoming many difficulties in developing Korea’s first indigenous space launch vehicle. The government is committed to providing full support since core R&D will be carried out this year to be ready for the launch in 2021,” said Choi Weon-ho, director of Space, Nuclear & Big Science Policy at MIST.
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