In South Korea, the first Nuri rocket of its own design was launched, which has been created since 2010. The carrier was unable to launch a mock-up payload into near-Earth orbit.
The rocket was launched from the Naro cosmodrome, located in the Jeolla-Namdo province in the southwest of the country. As it was reported immediately after the launch, the carrier systems worked normally: however, it later turned out that the one-and-a-half-ton mock-up of the payload could not be put into near-Earth orbit
The mass of "Nuri" is 200 tons. Four liquid engines were installed on the first stage. The second and third stages received one each.
Nuri Launch / ©scinews
"Nuri" became the first missile completely created by South Korean specialists. Development has been underway since 2010.
Back in 2009, South Korea conducted the first launch of the Naro rocket, created in close cooperation with Russia. In total, three launches of this type of carrier were performed, two of which were unsuccessful. The project is closed for today.
Recall that China recently tested a monolithic solid-fuel rocket engine, which was called the most powerful product of this type in the world.
It will probably allow China to expand its capabilities in the development of heavy-class missiles, which is relevant, given Beijing's growing ambitions in space.