[Nuriho success] Now it is a ‘money-making launch vehicle’… cost saving homework

Nuri succeeded four times in a row, including the fifth launch on the 7th, raising the reliability of the launch vehicle to the next level.

However, it is pointed out that in order to enter the commercial launch service market and become one of the 'five major space powers', the success rate must be increased to 90% while lowering launch costs, and speeding up the development of reusable launch vehicles and fostering a space industry ecosystem encompassing materials, parts, and equipment.

◇ The 6th launch of Nuri next year… Assembly of Suncheon-seo Dan

The government plans to carry out the 6th launch of Nuri next year and push for the 7th to 8th launch in the future.

Like the 5th launch, Nuriho Unit 6 will be equipped with five ultra-small constellation satellites. A cube satellite for exploration of the asteroid Apophis and verification of national cybersecurity will also be included.

Until now, assembly of the stage has been carried out at Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeollanam-do, but from the 6th launch, stage assembly work will be carried out at the factory established by Hanwha Aerospace [012450] in Suncheon. However, once assembly is completed, it is transported to the Naro Space Center by barge and complete assembly is performed.

In addition, from the 6th launch, the role of private companies will increase, and Hanwha Aero, a systems comprehensive company, will operate the consoles of all launch control centers subject to technology transfer.

The Korea Aerospace Administration has officially announced the 7th launch of Nuri in 2028, and the 7th will be equipped with the next-generation medium-sized satellite No. 5 and a cube satellite.

Oh Tae-seok, head of the Korea Aerospace Administration, said at a Kwanhun debate on the 30th of last month, "We plan to use Nuri to launch a lunar-orbiting communication satellite in 2029 and a small lunar lander in 2030."

Nuri is likely to be used as Korea's main launch vehicle until around 2031, when the next-generation launch vehicle test unit is launched.

◇ Trust in Nuriho has increased, but… Tasks such as weight reduction and engine improvement

Aerospace experts evaluated that although Korea's space development was significantly behind the United States as well as China and Japan, the success of the fifth launch of Nuri was able to increase the reliability of the launch vehicle.

Professor Heo Hwan-il of Chungnam National University said, “In order to commercialize sending satellites for money, the launch success rate must be at least 90%,” adding, “So this launch had to be successful.”

He added, “We must gradually increase the launch success rate and raise awareness of our launch vehicle in order to increase the probability of entering the commercial launch service market.”

Lightening the weight of the launch vehicle and lowering the launch cost are also considered important tasks.

Bang Hyo-chung, a professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), said, “Nuriho is Korea’s first launch vehicle, so it is relatively heavy,” and suggested, “It is important to reduce the weight through research and development and transfer the technology gained in this process to the next generation of launch vehicles.”

Professor Heo also said, “As the launch vehicle becomes lighter, the weight of the satellite that can be carried increases,” and said there is a need to develop engines with complex structures but good performance.

He added, “It is known that the cost of a single launch of Nuri is about 120 billion won, and it is difficult for the private sector to make a profit with this amount.” He added, “It would be good to reduce the launch price by half.”

◇ The world is moving toward reuse, low cost, and high frequency… The head of the subdivision also needs to be raised.

In the long term, some say that the next-generation launch vehicle to succeed Nuri should be made reusable and the space industry ecosystem should be expanded.

The American company SpaceX has developed a reusable launch vehicle, the Falcon 9, and China and Japan are also speeding up the introduction of reusable launch vehicles.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute plans to launch a reuse technology demonstration vehicle in 2028 and begin verification of the technology by flying to an altitude of 500 meters and landing.

The next-generation launch vehicle that will be used in earnest for lunar exploration will be developed as a reusable launch vehicle.

Ahn Hyeong-jun, head of the space public sector team at the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI), predicted, "In the future, launch vehicle competitiveness will not be determined by technical performance alone," and added, "Service competitiveness such as launch price, launch waiting period, schedule certainty, and orbital insertion precision will become more important."

Team Leader Ahn emphasized, "The global market is rapidly moving toward reuse and low-cost, high-frequency launches," and added, "In addition to improving the performance of Nuriho itself, we must simultaneously invest in next-generation space transportation technologies, such as reusable next-generation launch vehicles and orbital transportation."

Professor Bang said, "Korea has not yet entered the value chain of the space industry and can be considered to be in the early stages of commercialization. We need to foster the materials, parts, and equipment businesses and also enter the service market such as communication satellite services."

He added, "Just as Korea's automobiles, shipbuilding, and semiconductors were latecomers, but secured competitiveness by accumulating technology, Korean launch vehicles will also be able to become competitive in the future."