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In 2013, Korea's first space launch vehicle 'Naro' was successfully launched from Goheung, Jeollanam-do. However, the first stage main engine, which can be called the heart of the rocket, was also evaluated as a half-success because it was made by Russia.



Since then, efforts have been made to reach the universe with our own strength, and after spending 2 trillion won for 12 years, the Nuri-ho was completed. The Korean launch vehicle Nuri, made with pure Korean technology, soars into space three days later.



Reporter Jung Gu-hee will tell you.



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47m long three-stage projectile 'Nuriho' is carried on a special vehicle.



It is moved to the launch pad at the speed of a person's walking, then slowly stands up and secured to the launch pad.



After completing the launch pad standing test in August, the Nuri is now left with only launch.



Started the project in 2010 and spent 11 years on development alone, 1.9 trillion won.



It has been a series of difficulties since the development of the first-stage engine, which relied on Russian technology for the launch of the Naro in 2013.



Four 75-ton engines had to be combined to complete a 300-ton main engine.



I have been tormented since my first experiment in 2014, but after a lot of hard work, I got results in March of this year.



[Kim Seong-gu / Korea Aerospace Research Institute Combustor Team: We made design changes more than 10 times and performed combustion tests more than 20 times. So fortunately, I was able to overcome the combustion instability before it is too late.]




The powerful Nuri can put a 1.5-ton practical satellite 15 times the weight of Naro into space orbit.



If this launch is successful, Korea will rank among the seven countries in the world that can launch practical satellites over 1 ton, following the United States, the European Union, and Russia.



The research team, who experienced the pain twice during the Naro ship even after undergoing engine tests 180 times, does not let go of tension until the end.



[Lee Seung-jae / Korea Aerospace Research Institute Launch Control Team: I am looking forward to it, but even if one thing goes wrong, I can judge that the whole thing is so wrong.

It's a little bit scary and it seems that many complex emotions coexist.]



On the afternoon of the 21st, the Nuri will go on a historic flight from Goheung, Jeollanam-do, to a space orbit at an altitude of 700 km.



(Video coverage: Oh Young-chun, Video editing: Jeon Min-gyu)