‘Turning point’: South Korea’s largest satellite launched on Nuri rocket

South Korea launched its largest satellite yet on its nationally developed space rocket early on Thursday, the fourth of six planned launches through 2027.

The three-stage Nuri rocket lifted off from the country’s spaceport on an island off the southwestern coastal county of Goheung.

Aerospace officials said the rocket placed a 516kg (1,137-pound) science satellite and 12 microsatellites into a target orbit about 600km (372 miles) above Earth.

The Korea Aerospace Administration said the main satellite made successful contact with a South Korean ground station in Antarctica about 40 minutes after lift-off at 1.55am., confirming that it was functioning normally, including the deployment of its solar panels.

The 12 microsatellites will contact ground stations sequentially according to each device’s communication schedule.

Bae Kyung-hoon, the country’s science minister, declared the launch a success and said it reaffirms that South Korea has acquired independent space launch and transport capability.