INFRAME ASIA, NEWS – South Korea successfully launched its homegrown Nuri rocket on October 7, 2026, carrying 15 satellites into orbit. The launch took place from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, about 400 kilometers southwest of Seoul. It marked the fifth flight of the Nuri rocket and another major step in South Korea’s growing space program.
The 200-ton, three-stage rocket lifted off at 12:25 p.m. local time and completed its flight roughly 20 minutes later. Nuri reached an altitude of about 575 kilometers before beginning the deployment of its satellite payloads. The mission was significantly more complex than several of the rocket’s earlier flights.
The main payload consisted of five NEONSAT microsatellites designed to observe the Korean Peninsula and surrounding areas. Ten additional CubeSats were also carried aboard the rocket. The satellites were released sequentially after Nuri reached its planned orbit.
The five NEONSAT satellites were deployed individually at intervals of around 35 to 40 seconds. Between each deployment, the rocket’s upper stage rotated approximately 45 degrees to reduce the possibility of collisions between the spacecraft. The carefully coordinated sequence demonstrated Nuri’s ability to deploy multiple satellites during a single mission.
The NEONSAT satellites are part of South Korea’s first domestically launched microsatellite constellation. Each satellite weighs less than 100 kilograms and carries an electro-optical camera. The cameras are capable of producing black-and-white images with a resolution of around one meter and color images with a resolution of around four meters.
The satellites will be used to monitor the Korean Peninsula and surrounding areas. Their observations are expected to support national security and disaster response activities. The system could provide useful information during events such as wildfires, floods and other emergencies.
The five satellites also successfully established initial communication with South Korea’s King Sejong Station in Antarctica after reaching orbit. The early communication confirmed that the spacecraft were functioning after deployment. Ground teams will continue monitoring the satellites as they begin their operations.
Nine of the 10 CubeSats were successfully released during the mission. One CubeSat, PERSAT-02, developed by South Korean startup Quaternion, failed to separate from the rocket. Officials are continuing to analyze the situation surrounding the unsuccessful deployment.
Despite the problem with one secondary payload, the main mission was completed successfully. The Nuri rocket performed its planned post-deployment maneuver after releasing the satellites and vented its remaining fuel. The rocket will remain in orbit before eventually reentering Earth’s atmosphere.
The launch was Nuri’s fourth consecutive successful mission since its first flight failed in October 2021. During that initial launch, a third-stage engine shut down earlier than planned and prevented the rocket from placing its payload into orbit. Nuri successfully reached orbit on its second mission in June 2022.
This fifth mission represented another increase in the complexity of Nuri’s assignments. Earlier flights focused heavily on demonstrating that South Korea could independently develop and operate an orbital launch vehicle. The latest mission instead involved deploying several satellites designed to operate together as a constellation.
The NEONSAT constellation is expected to eventually consist of 10 satellites. Five additional satellites are scheduled to be launched aboard Nuri’s sixth mission in the latter half of 2027. Once the full constellation becomes operational, officials expect it to be capable of imaging the Korean Peninsula more than three times a day.
The system is also designed to revisit the same location within 24 hours when necessary. More frequent observation could provide authorities with additional information during emergencies and rapidly changing situations. The satellites could also provide a broader picture of developments across the peninsula than a single spacecraft could deliver.
South Korea is also preparing for more frequent satellite launches in the coming years. The successful fifth Nuri mission gives the country additional experience in placing multiple operational spacecraft into orbit during one flight. The next Nuri mission will build on that experience when the remaining NEONSAT satellites are prepared for launch in 2027.
