| Nuri (KSLV-II) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Function: | Small/Medium-lift launch vehicle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country-Origin: | South Korea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pcost: | (spaceport included)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height: | [2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stages: | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacities: |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status: | Active | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sites: | Naro, LC-2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launches: | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Success: | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fail: | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First: | 21 October 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last: | 26 November 2025 (most recent) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stagedata: |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nuri, also known as KSLV-II (Korean Space Launch Vehicle-II),[4] is an expendable, three-stage-to-orbit, small-lift launch vehicle, the second one developed by South Korea and the successor to Naro-1 (KSLV-1).[5] It is developed by Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).[6] [7] [8] All three stages use Korean developed launch vehicle engines, making Nuri the first orbital launch vehicle entirely developed and manufactured in South Korea.
The South Korean government decided to fund the development of relatively cheap and reliable rockets competitive enough for the commercial launch market.[9]
On 21 October 2021, Nuri made its initial orbital launch attempt at 08:00 UTC and it launched a dummy satellite payload into what was planned to be a Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). However, despite the payload reaching the targeted apogee (700 km), the third stage shut down about 46 seconds earlier than planned and the payload did not achieve orbital speed.[10] [11]
Nuri made its second flight on 21 June 2022, 07:00 UTC, with a payload of including a dummy satellite payload and a performance verification satellite (PVSAT) including four cube satellites. The second launch was successful, putting all the satellites onto the Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). As a result of this launch, South Korea became the seventh country in the world with the ability to put a satellite with a mass of at least one ton, into orbit.[12] [13]
After the two test launches, Nuri showed higher than expected performance, increasing its payload from 1,500 kg (3,300 Ib) to 1,900 kg (4,200 Ib).[14]
Nuri is the first launch vehicle developed with domestic, South Korean, technology throughout all processes, including design, manufacturing, and testing. With its successful launch, South Korea became the seventh country in the world to have a medium-sized liquid-propellant rocket engine over 75 tons.[15]
Nuri (KSLV-II) is a three-stage launch vehicle. The first stage booster uses four KRE-075 SL engines generating 266.4 tons of thrust with a specific impulse of 289.1 seconds. The second stage booster uses a single KRE-075 Vacuum engine, which has a wider nozzle for increased efficiency in vacuum with a specific impulse of 315.4 seconds. The third stage booster uses one KRE-007 engine with a specific impulse of 325.1 seconds. Both engine models use Jet A as fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX) as oxidizer.[16]
When technology development for Nuri began by October 2010,[17] the overall design goal was to develop a new expendable medium-lift launch vehicle that was entirely South Korean. Nuri first reached orbit in June 2022. The total cost of the development program was approximately US$1.5 billion.[18]
| Fuel | Jet A-1 / LOX | |
|---|---|---|
| Thrust | , : | |
| Specific impulse | , : | |
| Height | ||
| Diameter | ||
| Cycle | Gas generator |
The KRE-075 engine was developed in April 2016 after the 30 tf engine development program.[21]
| Fuel | Jet A-1 / LOX | |
|---|---|---|
| Thrust | ||
| Specific impulse | ||
| Cycle | Gas generator |
| Fuel | Jet A-1 / LOX | |
|---|---|---|
| Thrust | ||
| Specific impulse | ||
| Cycle | Gas generator |
The Test Launch Vehicle (TLV) was a single stage launch vehicle (with a planned two stage version), qualifying the performance of the KRE-075 engine which powers the KSLV-II. The TLV was in length, in diameter, and with a mass of 52.1 tons. The main-stage liquid rocket propellant engine was fully gimballed.[22] [23] With the 2nd stage engine installed, the two-stage version of TLV could perform as a small satellite launch vehicle.[24]
| Wet Mass | 52.1 tons[25] | |
| Dry Mass | 38 tons | |
| Height | 25.8 m | |
| Diameter | 2.6 m | |
| Stages | 1 | |
| Engine | 1 KRE-075 | |
| Payload | mass simulator |
The TLV was launched from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, on 28 November 2018. The main objective of the first suborbital flight was for the single-stage rocket's main engine to burn 140 seconds, reaching a 100 km altitude before splashing down in the sea between Jeju Island and Okinawa Island.[26]
The maiden flight was first delayed from 25 October 2018 for one month, due to abnormal readings detected in the launch vehicle propellant pressurization system.[27] The test flight was then rescheduled for 28 November 2018, at 07:00 UTC (16:00 KST). No payload was to be placed into orbit.[28]
The launch of the TLV while deemed successful with its main engine burning for 151 seconds in a 10-minute flight,[29] was not broadcast live.[30] After reaching a maximum altitude of, the launch vehicle stage splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, southeast of Jeju Island.[31]
As the TLV was meant to serve as a test craft, and as the flight ended in a success, there was not a second TLV launch.
As of 2020, further improvements were planned to be added after the success of KSLV-II program, under the name of KSLV-IIA.[32] With mainly increasing the thrust of the KRE-075 of the first stage from to and specific impulse from 261.7 seconds to 315.4 seconds, this would have increased the capacity of a payload to 700 km SSO to increase from 1900 kg to 2800 kg. The overall size of the rocket was also planned to grow, to the height of 54 m and wet mass of 232 tons.
Ministry of Science and ICT canceled the plan in 2021, criticizing it for lacking of challenge, and not reflecting the abolition of South Korea Ballistic Missile Range Guidelines.[33] Subsequently, the ministry decided to develop KSLV-III instead of upgrading KSLV-II.
Nuri will be used in launching several Earth observation satellites, such as KOMPSAT, medium-class satellites and LEO reconnaissance satellites. It is planned to support South Korea's Moon exploration mission to send orbiters and landers. Nuri will be South Korea's first launch vehicle 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 for South Korea to provide cheap launch services for Southeast Asia countries.[34]
South Korea plans to launch a high-weight rocket named KSLV-3 in 2030 instead of improving the KSLV-2. The decision is aimed at narrowing the technology gap with other countries.[35]
Instead, it plans to develop a low-cost rocket that miniaturizes the KSLV-2 and is considering launching a military satellite to monitor North Korea.[36]
| Flight No. | Date / time (UTC) | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 21, 2021, 08:00 | Nuri Test Payload 1 | LEO (planned) | KARI | ||
| Third stage shut down 46 seconds early, failed to reach orbit[37] | ||||||
| 2 | June 21, 2022, 07:00[38] | Nuri Test Payload 2 (1.3 tons), PVSAT (180 kg, with 4 CubeSats)[39] | SSO | KARI | [40] | |
| 3 | May 25, 2023, 09:24[41] | NEXTSat-2, SNIPE 1,2,3,4, JLC-101-v1-2, Lumir-T1, KSAT3U | SSO | KAIST, KASI | [42] | |
| 4 | November 26, 2025, 16:13[43] | CAS500 3, Domestic device and component verification satellite 1, 11 CubeSats[44] | SSO | KARI | ||
| 5 | 2026 | Domestic Device and Component Verification Satellite 2, NEONSAT 2,3,4,5,6 | SSO | KARI | ||
| 6 | 2027 | NEXTSat 3, Domestic Device and Component Verification Satellite 3, NEONSAT 7,8,9,10,11 | SSO | KARI | ||
