Record 15 satellites aboard reach target orbit
Five primary satellites successfully separated; 9 of 10 cubesats deployed
Rocket evolves into multi-satellite space delivery vehicle five years on
![The Nuri rocket lifts off from Launch Pad 2 at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province. [Korea Aerospace Research Institute]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/10/07/news-p.v1.20261007.b2300dde8d454b9990c96d403cadd48b_P1.jpeg)
South Korea's homegrown Nuri rocket has successfully completed its fifth launch.
At 12:25 p.m. Wednesday, the rocket roared off the launch pad in a burst of flame and ascended into space again. Though it was the fifth time Nuri had lifted off since its debut in 2021, tension at the launch site never eased — until word of success arrived, and the crowd broke into applause and sighs of relief.
This launch was no routine repeat. Nuri carried a record 15 satellites into orbit, taking on a far more complex mission than any of its previous flights. Among them were five Neonsat satellites, released sequentially at intervals of roughly 35 to 40 seconds as the rocket methodically placed each payload into its designated orbit.
When Nuri made its first flight in 2021, it carried only a satellite mock-up in place of a real payload. In the five years since, it has evolved into a genuine space delivery vehicle — one capable of precisely deploying multiple satellites in a single mission, and carrying more of them than ever before.
The next challenge for Nuri is establishing reliability and cost-effectiveness through repeated launches.
With a sixth and seventh launch still to come, the hope is that Nuri will grow into a commercial launch vehicle capable of carrying satellites not just for South Korea, but for customers around the world.
By Woo Won-hee
anney@heraldcorp.com
