(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead, photos; UPDATES with KASA's announcement in paras 2, 6)
By Kim Eun-jung
GOHEUNG, South Korea, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's homegrown Nuri rocket placed 15 satellites into orbit on its fifth launch, including five that will form part of the country's first domestically launched microsatellite constellation, the nation's space agency said.
The 200-ton Nuri blasted off from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, about 400 kilometers south of Seoul, at 12:25 p.m. and completed its flight 20 minutes later.
South Korea's Nuri space rocket lifts off from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, about 400 kilometers south of Seoul, on Oct. 7, 2026, in this photo provided by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The payload consists of five New-space Earth Observation Satellite Constellation for National Safety (NEONSAT) microsatellites and 10 CubeSats.
Nuri successfully separated its first and second stages before releasing the satellites at an altitude of around 575 km.
The five NEONSATs, Nos. 2 through 6, each weighing less than 100 kilograms, were deployed at intervals of 35 to 40 seconds, with Nuri's upper stage rotating about 45 degrees between each separation to prevent collisions. The 10 CubeSats followed in pairs every 10 seconds.
"The Nuri rocket reached its intended orbit as planned," said Oh Tae-seok, administrator of the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), adding that the launch team is conducting a detailed analysis to confirm whether the satellites were successfully deployed.
South Korea's Nuri space rocket lifts off from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, about 400 kilometers south of Seoul, on Oct. 7, 2026, in this photo provided by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
After releasing all 15 satellites, Nuri performed a collision-avoidance maneuver and vented its remaining fuel, completing its flight. The rocket will remain in orbit before eventually reentering Earth's atmosphere and burning up.
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute will track the flight from facilities in South Korea and Palau in the western Pacific.
The fifth flight marks Nuri's first attempt to sequentially deploy multiple primary satellites designed to perform the same mission.
Citizens watch the Naro space rocket's liftoff from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, about 400 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on Oct. 7, 2026. (Yonhap)
Each NEONSAT weighs less than 100 kilograms and carries an electro-optical camera capable of distinguishing objects as small as 1 meter in black-and-white images and 4 meters in color images.
The satellites will monitor the Korean Peninsula and surrounding areas for national security and disaster response.
The NEONSAT constellation will eventually consist of 10 satellites. Another five will be launched aboard Nuri's sixth flight scheduled for next year to complete the constellation.
Once fully operational, the constellation will be capable of imaging the Korean Peninsula more than three times a day and revisiting the same location within 24 hours.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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