South Korea launches Earth-observation satellite on homegrown Nuri rocket.

South Korea's Nuri rocket has flown for the fourth time ever.

The homegrown Nuri lifted off from Naro Space Center today (Nov. 26) at 11:13 a.m. EST (1613 GMT; 0113 on Nov. 27 Korea Standard Time).

The 155-foot-tall (47 meters) rocket carried an Earth-observation satellite called CAS500-3 and a dozen ride-along cubesats to orbit.

If all goes to plan, CAS500-3 ("Compact Advanced Satellite 500 3)" will be deployed into a sun-synchronous orbit 373 miles (600 kilometers) above Earth.

Once it's up and running, the 1,100-pound (500 kilograms) satellite will study our planet's auroras and another atmospheric phenomenon known as airglow. CAS500-3 will also measure magnetic fields and plasma, according to a statement from the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA), which was established in May 2024.

The 12 rideshare cubesats were provided by a range of companies and academic and research institutions and will perform a variety of tasks in orbit.

The three-stage Nuri is the first fully indigenous South Korean orbital rocket. A previous launcher, called Naro-1, reached orbit but employed a modified Russian Angara rocket as its first stage.

Source: www.space.com

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