South Korea successfully launches its first domestically produced space rocket

South Korea launches the Nuri space rocket from the launch pad at the Naro Space Center in Goheung County, June 21 - Photo: REUTERS

According to Reuters, the Nuri rocket was launched from the Naro Space Center on the southern coast of South Korea at 4:00 p.m. on June 21 local time, or 2:00 p.m. the same day Vietnam time.

The 162.5kg satellite designed to test Nuri's capabilities successfully docked with a space station in Antarctica after entering orbit, South Korean officials said.

The rocket also launched a 1.3-ton dummy satellite and four other small satellites into orbit.

“Korea’s universe is now bigger. Our science and technology have made great strides,” South Korean Science and Technology Minister Lee Jong Ho said at a press conference.

The KSLV-II Nuri rocket was designed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). Nuri's success in sending 1.5-ton satellites into orbit about 600-800km above Earth is a turning point for Korea's space ambitions.

This is a milestone that helps South Korea reach its goals of building a 6G network, intelligence satellites and lunar exploration in the future.

Nuri uses only South Korean rocket technology and is the country's first domestically produced space launch vehicle.

In its first test, Nuri completed its launch sequence but failed to place the satellite into orbit after its third-stage engine ran out of fuel earlier than planned. Engineers modified Nuri's helium tank to resolve the issue.

KARI said it plans to conduct at least four more test launches through 2027. Following the successful launch on June 21, the US Embassy in Seoul said on Twitter that it hopes to cooperate with South Korea in the space field soon.

According to Tuoi Tre