The Nuri rocket, also designated KSLV-II (Korea Space Launch Vehicle-II), is South Korea’s homegrown orbital launcher. Its fifth flight is scheduled for October 7, 2026, from Naro Space Center in Goheung, carrying five NEONSAT Earth-observation satellites and 10 CubeSats. This flight represents South Korea’s first deployment of a satellite constellation from a single launch.
The 15 satellites aboard include a combined mass of about 500 kg for the five NEONSAT spacecraft and about 96 kg for the 10 CubeSats. The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) scheduled the launch between 12:23 p.m. and 1:23 p.m. KST, setting a backup launch period through October 14, 2026.
What Nuri Is
The Nuri rocket is South Korea’s homegrown orbital launch vehicle, designed to carry domestic satellites into orbit under the national space program.
Its fifth launch is scheduled for October 7, 2026, between 12:23 p.m. and 1:23 p.m. Korea Standard Time (KST). The vehicle lifts off from Naro Space Center in Goheung, located approximately 330 kilometers south of Seoul. News reporting noted the rocket was erected on the launchpad on the eve of the launch. The flight had not taken place when this report was prepared, so readers should review updates directly from the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) for final liftoff timing and mission outcomes.
The table below lists published operational parameters confirmed by news reports covering government agency briefings.
| Parameter | Published Value |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Name | Nuri (Korea Space Launch Vehicle-II, or KSLV-II) |
| Scheduled Launch Date | October 7, 2026 |
| Scheduled Launch Window | 12:23 p.m. to 1:23 p.m. KST |
| Backup Launch Window | October 8 to October 14, 2026 |
| Launch Site | Naro Space Center, Goheung (about 330 km south of Seoul) |
| Total Satellites Aboard | 15 satellites |
| Primary Constellation Payload | 5 NEONSAT satellites (about 500 kg combined mass) |
| Secondary Payloads | 10 CubeSats (about 96 kg combined mass) |
| Separation Shock Reduction | Cut from about 2,000 G to about 1,000 G |
| NEONSAT Deployment Cadence | Released in different directions at 35 to 40 second intervals |
| System Integrator | Hanwha Aerospace |
Who Is Behind the Nuri Rocket Program
Multiple South Korean aerospace organizations manage the engineering, operational oversight, and industrial production of the Nuri program.
Reporting identifies Hanwha Aerospace as the system integrator for the launch system. For operational authority, one source names the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), while another source names the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA). The developer reported for the primary NEONSAT cluster is the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). For wider context on vehicle classes, see launch vehicles explained.
Fifth Launch Payload Configuration
The fifth launch carries 15 satellites into orbit, comprising five primary Earth-observation satellites alongside 10 smaller CubeSats.
The five NEONSAT units account for about 500 kg of mass combined. The 10 secondary CubeSats account for about 96 kg of mass combined. To understand how smaller secondary craft operate alongside primary satellites, see LEO satellites explained.
KASA reported this flight is the first attempt by the Nuri rocket to deploy multiple satellites performing the same mission sequentially into orbit. The five NEONSAT spacecraft release in different directions at intervals of 35 to 40 seconds to prevent orbital collisions. The flight uses a newly developed low-shock separation system. This hardware cuts separation shock from about 2,000 G to about 1,000 G, roughly half the previous level. Basic stages of orbital delivery are reviewed in how rocket launches work.
NEONSAT Constellation Architecture
The NEONSAT program, short for New-space Earth Observation Satellite Constellation for National Safety, provides high-frequency orbital imagery over the Korean Peninsula.
Each NEONSAT spacecraft carries an electro-optical camera dedicated to national security tasks and disaster monitoring, including tracking wildfires and floods. The full constellation targets imaging the Korean Peninsula more than three times a day once fully deployed.
South Korea plans a total constellation of 10 NEONSAT satellites operating across two orbital planes. The first five spacecraft fly on the fifth Nuri flight, and the remaining five are scheduled to launch on the sixth Nuri flight in 2027. Readers can find background on multi-spacecraft networks in satellite constellations explained.
Launch History of the Nuri Rocket
Nuri flew four missions before the fifth flight.
- October 2021: The maiden flight of the Nuri rocket failed to place its payload into orbit.
- June 2022: The second flight succeeded.
- 2023: The third flight succeeded.
- 2025: The fourth flight succeeded.
Why the Fifth Flight Matters Commercially
The fifth flight demonstrates South Korea’s capability to deploy a multi-satellite constellation from a single domestic launch vehicle.
Industrial execution centers on Hanwha Aerospace operating as the system integrator. Deploying five identical observation satellites on one booster establishes the operational sequence needed for the 10-satellite network. The remaining five satellites are planned to fly on Nuri’s sixth launch in 2027 to fill the second planned orbital plane.
Information Not Published in Official Sources
Several mission parameters remain unpublished in the news reports covering agency briefings.
The news sources reviewed do not state:
- The targeted orbital altitude or inclination for the 15 satellites.
- Individual satellite dimensions, power specifications, or mass beyond the reported combined totals.
- The optical resolution of the electro-optical cameras aboard the NEONSAT spacecraft.
- The commercial launch price per flight or per kilogram.
Readers seeking technical updates should verify these data points directly with the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) as official mission updates are published. The figures on this page come from Korea Times reporting and Korea Herald reporting of agency briefings.