Relaunch of Nuri D-30... "Fixed the 3-stage helium tank"

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The second launch of the Nuri projectile made with our technology is 30 days away.

During the first launch in October of last year, the 3-stage rocket was a problem, so I am paying more attention this time.

Reporter Gu-hee Jung visited the Naro Space Center, where preparations for the re-challenge were in full swing.

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The four letters 'Korea' and the pure Korean word 'Nuri', meaning the world, are engraved on the body of the white rocket.

The heart of Nuri, equipped with a 300-ton main engine, and the second stage, which will serve as the waist, are combined into one.

As the 1st and 2nd stages have already proven their performance during the first launch, we put all our energy into developing the 3rd stage.

At the first launch, the three-stage helium tank fell off, causing a problem with thrust, so this time, the internal structure of the three-stage was changed and the helium tank was fixed.

[Jang Young-soon / Head of Launch Vehicle System Development Department, Aerospace Research Institute: Actually, we have now completed all ground tests.

I actually applied more than 150% of the load and checked whether this (the helium tank) was dislodged or whether there was any damage.]

Now, all that remains until launch is to load the satellite.

Unlike the first launch, when a model satellite was loaded, this time, an actual satellite for performance verification and 4 small satellites developed by a university research team are mounted.

We plan to finish the assembly process 5 days before launch.

The launch pad is also waiting for the Nuri to stand.

[Byung-Rok Moon / Senior Researcher, Launch Team, Aerospace Research Institute: We are always working on the launch with hope, anticipation and certainty.

The second launch, we are ready for success, I can tell you that.]

If the second launch of the Nuri is successful next month, Korea will become the 7th country in the world to have a space launch vehicle capable of launching a 1 ton practical satellite.

(Video coverage: Hyung Yoon, Changhyun Cho, video editing: Eunjin Choi)

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Last year, I also watched the first launch at the Naro Space Center, but the second launch is approaching.

Reporter Goo-Hee Jung, did you think that the technology of our projectiles became more important due to the Ukraine crisis?

[Reporter Gu-hee Jung: Yes.

This is because a launch vehicle is required to launch a satellite.

South Korea was going to launch a space weather observation satellite, Toyosat, and a next-generation medium-sized satellite 2 using a Russian Soyuz rocket.

However, as Russia is subject to economic sanctions, the schedule is currently unconfirmed.

In addition, this next-generation medium-sized satellite 2 contains parts that the US has banned for export, so the launch could be delayed indefinitely until the US lifts economic sanctions on Russia.

Also, the launch schedule of Arirang 6, which was intended to be launched using the Russian Angara rocket, is unclear in the second half of this year.]

[Reporter Guhee Jung: For now, it is possible.

However, the development of better projectiles is also essential.

Nuri is capable of lifting 1.5 tons of objects to an altitude of 700 km, which is a low orbit.

In fact, some of the experimental satellites we are using weigh more than 3 tons, and we need to lift them to a much higher geostationary orbit.

After the second launch, the government decided to start full-scale development and develop a next-generation projectile that can fly to the moon using a 100-ton engine.]