Nuriho launches 15 satellites into orbit

South Korea's homegrown launch vehicle Nuriho launched from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, on the 7th and successfully deployed all 15 satellites on board. Nuriho lifted off at 12:25 p.m. that day, with the first stage, payload fairing, and second stage separating sequentially as planned, and entered its target orbit at an altitude of 570 kilometers stably about 12 minutes after launch. This was the launch's first flight in roughly a year since its fourth launch in November last year.

Satellite deployment began at 12:38 p.m., about 12 minutes and 30 seconds after launch. The five main payloads—microsatellite cluster units NEONSAT-2 through 6—were deployed one at a time at intervals of 35 to 40 seconds. The 10 cubesats were ejected two at a time at 10-second intervals.

After completing satellite deployment, Nuriho finished its automated and tracking operations at around 12:45 p.m. It will then perform a collision-avoidance maneuver to prevent contact with the satellites, release its remaining fuel, orbit the Earth, and eventually re-enter the atmosphere and burn up. Ground stations will communicate with the satellites to confirm their initial status.

Oh Tae-seok, Administrator of the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), said, "Nuriho entered the target orbit normally and the satellite deployment was carried out successfully." Researchers at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) are analyzing the flight data, with results expected to be announced at around 2 p.m. that day.