South Korea’s fifth Nuri launch deployed five NEONSAT microsatellites and 10 CubeSats into a target orbit 575 kilometres above Earth. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute livestreamed the launch.
The rocket lifted off from the Naro Space Center in the south of the Korean Peninsula at 12:25 p.m. local time on October 7. Its first stage separated about two minutes after launch. The second stage separated at the four-minute, 30-second mark, and the third-stage engine ignited.
Nuri reached its target altitude 12 minutes and 30 seconds after liftoff and began releasing its payload. The five NEONSAT microsatellites separated at intervals of about 35 to 40 seconds and were deployed by 12:41 p.m. They are intended for disaster monitoring and national-security applications.
The 10 CubeSats then separated at intervals of about 10 seconds, with deployment complete by 12:42 p.m. Nuri was expected to perform a collision-avoidance manoeuvre, discard its remaining fuel, re-enter the atmosphere and burn up.
The rocket’s fourth launch took place on November 26, 2025, carrying the CAS500-3 satellite for space research and 12 CubeSats. South Korea plans further Nuri launches, development of a reusable launch vehicle and a first landing of a small spacecraft on the Moon by 2030.