South Korea's Nuri rocket to launch first domestic microsatellite constellation on Oct. 7
South Korea will launch its Nuri rocket on Oct. 7, carrying 15 satellites including five that start the nation’s first home-grown microsatellite constellation.
On Oct. 7, the domestically built Nuri launch vehicle is set to lift off from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, carrying a payload of 15 satellites. The primary payload consists of five New-space Earth Observation Satellite Constellation for National Safety (NEONSAT) units, together weighing roughly 500 kg, while ten CubeSats add about 96 kg. For the first time, Nuri will deploy several satellites performing the same task in a single flight, releasing the NEONSATs at 35- to 40-second intervals in different directions to prevent collisions.
Park Jae-sung, head of KASA’s space transportation division, said the mission represents a turning point toward mass production and constellation operations for South Korea’s space sector. Each NEONSAT carries an electro-optical camera to support national security and disaster response, such as monitoring wildfires and floods. The five launched now will be joined by another five on a 2027 flight to complete a ten-satellite constellation capable of imaging the Korean Peninsula more than three times a day and revisiting sites within 24 hours. KASA confirmed that final assembly and inspections are proceeding on schedule.
Why it matters
It marks South Korea's first domestically launched satellite constellation, boosting national security imaging and disaster response capabilities.
In this story
