3, 2, 1, test start!
A fire ignites in a 75-ton rocket engine.
A thunderous noise comparable to a jet plane reverberates near the Naro Space Center.
Hazy water vapor envelops the surroundings.
This is a scene of the first engine test of the Nuriho, which will be the 4th to launch.
The first stage rocket will have a total of four engines like this, and the goal is to assemble and test the first engine’s performance.
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute will finalize the performance based on the combustion test data.
The significance of the 4th Nuriho lies in the fact that while it has been overseen by the government so far, in the future, it will be developed and launched with Hanhwa Aerospace.
The 4th launch is expected to be around the end of next year, with the 5th and 6th launches scheduled for 2026 and 2027, respectively.
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute plans to assemble and test a total of 6 engines to be mounted on the Nuriho one by one over the course of 1-2 months, and complete all engine development by February next year.
(Video provided by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, edited by Kim Ji-hoon)