Nuri (KSLV-II) will carry a 180 kg performance verification satellite, dummy satellite, and four miniature research satellites.

Courtesy of Ministry of Science, ICT and KARI

Nuri, which is also known as Korean Satellite Launch Vehicle II (KSLV-II), is designed to give South Korea its own domestic launch capability and to allow the nation to compete on the international market.

KARI designed the rocket with Hanwha Aerospace manufacturing the engines. Korea Aerospace Industries oversaw the final assembly of the booster. Hyundai Heavy Industries built the launch pad.

Development costs are estimated at 1.96 trillion won (US $1.7 billion), which includes spaceport construction.

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. Currently, the goal is to launch a 1500 kg payload into a 600–800 km low Earth orbit (LEO) and 2600 kg into a 300 km LEO.

Nuri will be used in launching several Earth-observing satellites, such as KOMPSAT, medium-class satellites, and LEO reconnaissance satellites.

Nuri will be South Korea's first rocket to enter the commercial launch service market. The launch cost is estimated to be around US$30 million, which is cheaper than its Asian counterparts. This will allow South Korea to provide cheap launch services for Southeast Asia countries.

Photo: KSLV-II on the launch pad Credit: KAP

LC-2, also called LB-2 for the pad itself, is the second pad of the Naro Space Center. It is set to support the KSLV-II launch vehicle beginning in 2021.

Different from LC-1, which doesn't have an umbilical tower, LC-2 has a tower to support the larger KSLV-II vehicle.

Naro Space Center

Naro Space Center is a South Korean spaceport in South Jeolla's Goheung County, operated by the state-run Korea Aerospace Research Institute.

The spaceport is located about 485 km (300 mi) south of Seoul. It includes two launch pads, a control tower, rocket assembly, and test facilities, facilities for satellite control testing and assembly, a media center, an electric power station, a space experience hall, and a landing field.

Naro has supported 4 launches, and will continue to support the KSLV-II and SSLV launches in 2021 through 2025.

Image Credit: KARI