Nuri (rocket)

Nuri (KSLV-II)

KSLV-II Nuri launching from the Launch Pad 2 at Naro Space Center, 21 October 2021.
Function	Orbital launch vehicle
Manufacturer	KARI (design) Korea Aerospace Industries (final assembly) [1] Hanwha Aerospace (engine manufacturing) Hyundai Heavy Industries (launchpad)
Country of origin	South Korea
Project cost	₩ 1.96 trillion; US$1.7 billion (spaceport included) [2]
Size
Height	47.2 m (155 ft) [3]
Diameter	3.5 m (11 ft)
Mass	200,000 kg (440,000 lb)
Stages	3
Capacity
Payload to LEO (200 km)
Mass	3,300 kg (7,300 lb)
Payload to SSO (500 km)
Mass	2,200 kg (4,900 lb)
Payload to SSO (700 km)
Mass	1,900 kg (4,200 lb)[4]
Payload to GTO
Mass	1,000 kg (2,200 lb)[5]
Launch history
Status	Active
Launch sites	Naro Space Center, LC-2
Total launches	3
Success(es)	2
Failure(s)	1
Notable outcome(s)	0
First flight	21 October 2021, 08:00 UTC
Last flight	25 May 2023, 09:24 UTC (Active)
Type of passengers/cargo	Dummy satellite
First stage
Height	21.6 m (71 ft)
Diameter	3.5 m (11 ft)
Powered by	4 KRE-075 SL
Maximum thrust	2,942 kN (661,000 lbf) [6]
Specific impulse	261.7 seconds (Sea level), 298.6 seconds (Vacuum) [7]
Burn time	127 seconds
Propellant	Jet A / LOX
Second stage
Diameter	2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
Powered by	1 KRE-075 Vacuum
Maximum thrust	788 kN (177,000 lbf) [6]
Specific impulse	315.4 seconds (Vacuum) [6]
Burn time	148 seconds
Propellant	Jet A / LOX
Third stage
Height	3.5 m (11 ft)
Diameter	2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
Powered by	1 KRE-007 Vacuum
Maximum thrust	68.7 kN (15,400 lbf) [6]
Specific impulse	325.1 seconds (Vacuum)
Burn time	498 seconds
Propellant	LOX / Jet A-1
[edit on Wikidata]

Nuri (Korean: 누리; Korean pronunciation: [nuriː], meaning "world" in native Korean), also known as KSLV-II (Korean Space Launch Vehicle-II),^[8] is a three-stage launch vehicle, the second one developed by South Korea and the successor to Naro-1 (KSLV-1).^[9] Nuri is developed by Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).^{[10][11][3][12]} All three stages use indigenously developed launch vehicle engines, making Nuri the first indigenously developed South Korean orbital launch vehicle (the Naro-1 launch vehicle used a Russian-made first stage).

The South Korean government has set SpaceX as a "role model", striving to develop relatively cheap and reliable rockets competitive enough for the commercial launch market.^[13]

On 21 October 2021, Nuri made its initial orbital launch attempt at 08:00 UTC and it launched a 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) dummy satellite payload into what was planned to be a 700 km (430 mi) Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). However, despite the payload reaching the targeted apogee (700 km), the third stage shut down about 46 seconds earlier than planned and the payload did not achieve orbital speed.^[12][14][15]

Nuri made its second flight on 21 June 2022, 07:00 UTC, with a payload of 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) including a 1,300 kg (2,900 lb) dummy satellite payload and a 180 kg (400 lb) performance verification satellite (PVSAT) including four cube satellites. The second launch was successful, putting all the satellites onto the 700 km (430 mi) Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).^[16] As a result of this launch, South Korea became the seventh country in the world with the ability to put a satellite with a mass of at least one ton, into orbit.^[17][18]

After the two test launches, Nuri showed higher than expected performance, increasing its payload from 1,500 kg (3,300 Ib) to 1,900 kg (4,200 Ib).^[4]

Nuri is the first projectile developed with independent Korean domestic technology throughout all processes, including design, manufacturing, and testing. With its final successful launch, South Korea has become the seventh country in the world to have a medium-sized liquid-propellant rocket engine over 75 tons.^[19]