China News Service, February 10th. According to South Korea’s "Joongang Daily" report, in 2021, a three-stage launch vehicle developed using South Korea's own technology will be launched in South Korea for the first time.
In addition, South Korea plans to launch a new generation of medium-sized satellites in 2021 and complete a number of space development projects.
The Ministry of Science, Technology, Information and Communication of Korea (hereinafter referred to as the Ministry of Science, Technology and Communication) held the "Aerospace Development and Promotion Working Committee" with 16 relevant departments on February 8 and approved the work plan with the above content.
These are the main R&D projects that are planned to be invested in 625 billion won in 2021 in the "third basic plan for space development and promotion" formulated by the Korean government in 2018.
In the 2021 aerospace development and implementation plan, the most interesting is the launch of the first launch vehicle developed using South Korea’s independent technology.
The South Korean government plans to launch the "NURI" rocket (KSLV-II) independently developed by South Korea at the Raro Space Center in Gojog County, Jeonnam in October.
NURI is a three-stage liquid-engine rocket with a total length of 47.2 meters, which can carry 1500 kg. The first-stage rocket consists of four 75-ton liquid engines, the second-stage rocket consists of one 75-ton-class engine, and the third-stage rocket consists of one It consists of a 7-ton engine.
The Korean Aerospace Research Institute is currently conducting combustion experiments on the first-stage rocket certification model, and the testing of the second- and third-stage rockets has been completed.
The NURI was originally planned to be launched in February, but the National Space Commission to be held in December 2020 decided to postpone the launch date.
At that time, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Communications stated that "the research and development of the first-level rocket has undergone certain adjustments" and "it needs more preparation time."
In addition, South Korea’s new generation of medium-sized satellites is planned to be launched in March using the Russian Soyuz launch vehicle in Kazakhstan.
The new generation of medium-sized satellite No. 1 is also a precision ground observation satellite developed using South Korea's independent technology. It can be used for land and resource management and provide accurate ground observation image data for South Korea to respond to disasters and disasters.
South Korea will also launch nanosatellites to observe the space environment.
In addition, the spacecraft and satellites planned to be launched in 2022 will also be assembled in 2021.
First of all, in 2021, the assembly of South Korea's first lunar orbiting spacecraft will be launched.
The US company SpaceX plans to launch South Korea's lunar orbital spacecraft in 2022.
For this reason, South Korea needs to complete the assembly of the orbital spacecraft and debug the orbital spacecraft system in 2021.
South Korea’s Minister of Science, Technology and Communications, Jeong Byeongsun said, “In 2021, we will launch a carrier rocket and a new generation of medium-sized satellites developed using our own technology to successfully complete our space development project.” “We will do our best to ensure the successful completion of the mission.”