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South Korea Confirms Successful Fourth Nuri Launch With First Nighttime Mission

The night launch marks a shift toward greater private‑sector leadership in South Korea’s space program.

Overview

  • Lift‑off from the Naro spaceport occurred at 01:13 local time after an 18‑minute delay during pre‑launch sensor checks, within the planned window.
  • All three stages operated as planned to reach roughly 600 kilometers, with satellite deployment beginning around 01:26 and mission completion at about 01:31.
  • The payload included the 512‑kilogram CAS500‑3 science satellite and 12 cubesats, totaling approximately 960 kilograms.
  • CAS500‑3 established initial contact at 01:55 local time via a South Korean Antarctic ground station as post‑deployment checks continued.
  • Hanwha Aerospace led production and preparation under a government technology‑transfer policy, while KARI oversaw launch operations.