The space authority plans to immediately begin preparations for the 6th Nuri launch in 2027. The plan is to launch Nuri once a year through 2032 and to develop the next-generation launch vehicle, which will carry South Korea's first lunar lander in 2032. The goal is to send a launch vehicle into space once a year and secure a success rate of over 90%.
The Ministry of Space Science and Technology has allocated 75 billion won for the "Nuri Follow-up Launch Support" project in its 2027 budget proposal. In its end-of-last-year business report, the ministry revealed its policy to promote repeated launches of Nuri once a year. Currently, Nuri's schedule is confirmed through the 7th launch in 2028. The 2027 government budget includes new funding for launches from the 8th onward (2028–2032).
The purpose of repeated launches is to secure a launch success rate of over 90%. The concept involves transitioning the current public-sector-centric space industry ecosystem into a private-sector-led space transportation industry ecosystem and expanding the industrial ecosystem.
In particular, starting with the 8th Nuri launch in 2029, the plan is to carry public and defense satellites on Nuri. It also aims to challenge the medium-to-long-term goal of launching two to three times a year or more. The next-generation launch vehicle development project, which involves converting disposable launch vehicles into reusable "reusable launch vehicles," will receive an investment of 291.6 billion won. Through this, the plan is to develop a 70-meter-long reusable launch vehicle equipped with ten 80-ton-class reusable engines divided between the first and second stages. The next-generation launch vehicle will first be developed as a disposable vehicle to send a lunar lander, with plans to transition to reusability by 2035.
In addition, 25.3 billion won is planned for next year for the Naro Space Center Advancement Project (Phase 3), which involves replacing aging equipment at the launch site and newly constructing a large assembly facility and test building.
Oh Tae-seok, Woo Ju (Commissioner), stated in a press conference following the successful 5th Nuri launch that day, "To achieve a 90% success rate for launch vehicles, we must launch Nuri up to its 10th mission." He added, "We are currently in the process of properly building the launch vehicle, and this takes priority so that we can create an economically viable launch service. The 2028 launch will be government-led, and from 2029 onward, we intend to proceed with the project under private-sector leadership."
in TECH
