SOUTH KOREA’s first domestically produced rocket took off on October 21 at 5 p.m. local time. The Korean Satellite Launch Vehicle (KSLV)-II was dubbed Nuri, which means “world” in Korean, signifying the possibility of expanding our “world” to space[1]. Nuri was unsuccessful in “reaching the space orbit,” the ultimate goal of its 16-minute-long flight. Despite this, the launch showed that 12 years of scientific development were not in vain. Many hope the launch will herald a new era of South Korean space development.

From Naro to Nuri

   Nuri is the culmination of over a decade of development. Its journey can be traced back to Naro, or KSLV-I, a South Korean launch vehicle designed with Russian assistance and launched in 2009, the year the KSLV-II program was officially approved. The key technologies onboard Naro, such as the booster engines used during the first stage of the launch, were Russian designed. During an exclusive interview with The Yonsei Annals, Lee Chang-jin (Prof., Dept. of Aerospace Engineering, Konkuk Univ.) said, “Although South Korea was not capable of launching its own satellite independently at the time, through the Naro program, it could still acquire expertise in many crucial areas, such as constructing a launch site and integrating different stage engines into one.”

   The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is an informal international political agreement among 35 nations that seek to limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology[2]. Thus, MTCR bans the transfer of rocket technology to South Korea even for non-military purposes. Because of this, South Korea had to develop all the technologies needed for a successful launch by itself. Lee said, “Although South Korea had a strong technology-related sector, with expertise in a variety of fields such as shipbuilding, oil refining, steel, automobile, and semiconductors, there still were some advanced technologies the country did not have any experience with.” Lee added, “These technological challenges led to multiple failures at first. Development of the 75-ton engine and oxidizer tank was particularly troublesome.” 

   A team of around 250 people from the research and development sector at Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) worked to develop the technology required for Nuri[3]. The fact that the core technologies were developed by South Korea independently is why Nuri, the second KSLV, is considered by many observers to be the first true South Korean designed rocket. 

The outcome of Nuri’s first test

   After 12 years of development, the 200-ton rocket blasted off from Naro Space Center in Goheung, aiming to place a dummy satellite into low Earth orbit. The launch was broadcasted live on several media platforms, including TV and YouTube. The journey which had lasted 12 years came to an end in only 16 minutes and 7 seconds.

   All three stages of the rocket were successful, with first and second stage preparation going as planned. However, after reaching the target altitude of 700 km, the dummy satellite failed to enter orbit. Go Jung-hwan, the director of the headquarters of Korean launch vehicle development at KARI said, “The third stage of the rocket lacked combustion time and was unable to accelerate to speeds required to reach the targeted orbit[4].” 

   Even though the test was unsuccessful in achieving its primary goal, many observers still viewed it as an overall success. The booster engines developed by South Korea used for initial take-off had worked. Now the focus is on perfecting the final stage of the flight. Lee, who worked on the early development of Nuri and has been monitoring progress ever since, said, “I expect the problem—the premature termination of the third-stage engine—will be solved without difficulty by the time the second launch test occurs in May 2022.”

More challenges to come

   There are only six countries in the world that have succeeded in developing their own independent launch vehicles that weigh over one ton: the United States, Russia, the European Union (EU), China, Japan, and India. If Nuri succeeds in future launches and sends a satellite into orbit, South Korea will become the seventh country to do so. According to KARI, Nuri will be launched five more times by 2027[5]. The South Korean government plans to support private enterprises to develop launch vehicles and facilitate public-private cooperation in technology. Moreover, the South Korean government plans on installing a helioscope[6] at the International Space Station by 2023, beginning asteroids exploration by 2029, and lunar exploration by 2030[7].

   Nevertheless, there is still much to be done if South Korea wants to enter the upper echelon of spacefaring nations. While the private sector is leading space exploration in the United States, Europe, China, and Japan in what observers have dubbed the “New Space” paradigm, the South Korean aerospace industry is mostly government controlled. KARI was responsible for the development and assembly of Nuri, with Hanwha Aerospace, Hyundai Heavy Industries, and around 300 small companies only partaking in the project as manufacturers. The government was also the sole source of funds, providing ₩2 trillion for the project. “The scale of government investment in the space industry is limited because the government budget needs to be balanced out between interests in different sectors,” Lee said. According to Lee, overreliance on the government needs to be overcome for the South Korean space industry to develop fully. Broader public demand for space exploration will be needed for it to enter the “New Space” era. Lee pointed out, “South Korea now confronts the task of creating demand for aerospace technology in the market. With a more diverse range of private sector actors involved, a virtuous cycle could be created, stimulating development in the space industry.” 

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   Nuri, is a crucial steppingstone for South Korea. Despite failing in its overall objective, the launch demonstrated that the country had secured most of the core technologies required for a successful one. “Developing a launch vehicle that a country can independently use means that it has seized the means to go to space. The launch vehicle is the foundation for all space development, including the Korean GPS, lunar probe, reconnaissance satellites, and so on,” Lee said. Only time will tell whether Lee’s lofty expectations will be met. For now, all we can do is eagerly await Nuri’s second launch with crossed fingers. 

[1] The Fact

[2] U.S. Department of State

[3] News 1

[4] The JoongAng

[5] Yonhap News

[6] Helioscope: An instrument used in observing the sun and sunspots

[7] DongA Ilbo