South Korea plans 12 Nuri launches by 2032, including military satellites
South Korea plans to launch its Nuri rocket at least once a year through 2032, carrying public and defence satellites, the Korea AeroSpace Administration said. The 2031 mission is scheduled to deploy four electro-optical reconnaissance satellites; three companion satellites for the Arirang 8 radar satellite are planned for 2032.
Bottom line — South Korea is targeting a 7-tonne payload capacity for its next-generation rocket by 2032, up from Nuri’s 2.2 tonnes.
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KASA’s schedule includes two Nuri launches in 2030: one for communications satellites and one for a small lunar lander.
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The agency aims to raise Nuri’s launch success rate above 90% through repeated missions, according to The Herald Business.
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A 12-metre test vehicle is due for vertical take-off and landing trials at about 500 metres in 2028, DongA Science reports.
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In 2032, the first stage of a 50-metre next-generation rocket is planned for a vertical landing test at about 1,000 metres, with reusable technology targeted for 2035.
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South Korea plans a second space centre capable of supporting more than 10 launches a year; its location is due to be decided by December, according to KASA.