Goheung: South Korea's domestically developed space rocket, Nuri, has successfully launched from the Naro Space Center, placing 13 satellites into orbit during its fourth mission, as reported by space authorities.

According to Anadolu Agency, the 200-ton Nuri rocket lifted off from Goheung, a coastal village situated 473 kilometers south of Seoul, at 1.13 am (1613GMT Wednesday), as stated by the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). The launch was initially delayed from its scheduled time of 00:55 am (1555GMT Wednesday) due to a sensor issue, noted Yonhap news agency.

The Nuri rocket achieved its first-stage separation approximately two minutes after liftoff, followed by the second-stage separation four minutes and 30 seconds into the flight. After reaching a target altitude of 600 kilometers, the rocket successfully deployed the CAS500-3, a next-generation medium-sized satellite, along with 12 cube satellites.

Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon confirmed the success of the launch during a press briefing at the center, highlighting the successful deployment of all satellites into orbit. Bae remarked that this launch marks a significant shift in focus from a government-led to a private sector-driven space ecosystem. He also stated the government's commitment to becoming one of the world's top five space powerhouses.

Yoon Young-bin, administrator of KASA, echoed Bae's sentiments, underlining Seoul's ongoing efforts to enhance South Korea's space exploration capabilities.