South Korea plans to test its first domestically produced space launch vehicle next week, a major step toward jump-starting the country’s space program and achieving ambitious goals in 6G networks, spy satellites and even lunar probes.
If all goes well, the three-stage NURI rocket, designed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) to eventually put 1.5-ton payloads into orbit 600 to 800 kilometers above the Earth, will carry a dummy satellite into space on Thursday.
South Korea’s last such booster, launched in 2013 after multiple delays and several failed tests, was jointly developed with Russia.
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