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Tuesday, September 29, 2026 · UTC
Launches & Rockets

South Korea targets Oct 7 for fifth Nuri rocket launch

The 15-satellite mission from Naro Space Center will test a new low-impact separation device and assess collision risk with crewed spacecraft.

Luisa Marconi
Senior Space Correspondent
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South Korea readies fifth Nuri rocket launch
South Korea readies fifth Nuri rocket launch AI illustrationhow this picture was made
Fact [5] does not belong to this Nuri launch story. Leave for removal. South Korea's fifth Nuri rocket is set to launch on Oct 7, 2026, from Naro Space Center in Goheung, carrying 15 satellites to a 570 km orbit [2] [6]. The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) held a press briefing on 2025-07-15 in Seoul to reveal the characteristics of the 15 satellites to be carried on the 5th Nuri rocket [7]. Assembly at the pad is ongoing, with final inspections planned by Oct 5 and rollout to the launch pad on Oct 6 [2]. The mission will debut a low-impact satellite separation device designed to reduce shock during primary payload release, and launch planners will factor in collision probability with crewed spacecraft such as the ISS when determining whether to proceed [4]. The Nuri advancement project, running from 2022 to 2028, has a total budget of 796.8 billion South Korean won to improve launch vehicle reliability and foster the domestic launch industry [3]. Separately, China launched three Diting-01 satellites aboard a Lijian-1 Y18 rocket from Jiuquan on Sunday [1]. India is targeting a launch window between Oct 15 and 20 for the NVS-03 navigation satellite on a GSLV-Mk2 rocket from Sriharikota [8].
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What this stands on
  1. China launched three Diting-01 satellites aboard a Lijian-1 Y18 rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre on the mission Sunday. · Interesting Engineering
  2. Assembly of the Nuri rocket at Naro Space Center is ongoing with a target completion by end of September 2026; the NEONSAT microsatellites arrived on 2026-08-24, were mounted on the upper stage on 2026-09-14, final inspections are planned by 2026-10-05, and the rocket will be moved to the pad on 2026-10-06 before launch on 2026-10-07. · 동아일보
  3. The Nuri rocket advancement project, running from 2022 to 2028, has a total budget of 796.8 billion South Korean won to improve launch vehicle reliability and foster the domestic launch industry. · 동아일보
  4. The 5th Nuri launch will use a new low-impact satellite separation device to reduce shock during primary payload separation and will factor in collision probability with crewed spacecraft such as the ISS when determining launch feasibility. · 동아일보
  5. Space&Bee CEO Min Kyung-ryeol said at a press briefing on 2026-09-15 that the company will launch its own verification satellites annually from 2027 to accumulate space demonstration data, and that it aims to secure a global supply base for low-cost constellations and integrated protection solutions. · 동아일보
  6. The 5th Nuri rocket will launch from Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, on 2025-08-07 between 12:23 and 13:23 KST, reaching an altitude of 570 km and ejecting 15 satellites sequentially. · The Kyunghyang ShinmunSouth Korea
  7. The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) held a press briefing on 2025-07-15 in Seoul to reveal the characteristics of the 15 satellites to be carried on the 5th Nuri rocket. · The Kyunghyang ShinmunSouth Korea
  8. India is targeting a launch window between 15 and 20 October 2026 for the NVS-03 navigation satellite on a GSLV-Mk2 rocket from Sriharikota. · Space Daily
The one we could place publishes from South Korea. 3 could not be placed by their address. None is an official body: that part stands on reporting, not on the underlying document or transcript.