Over 300 Korean companies serve as building blocks of Nuri success

Tight collaboration of all parties concerned is key to a rocket launch, as a minor technical glitch could botch years of efforts.

Behind Tuesday’s successful launch of South Korea’s first homegrown rocket Nuri were the joint efforts of over 300 companies at home.

Korea Aerospace Industries, based in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, was the effective leader of the pack. KAI has been in charge of the assembly of all rocket parts supplied since joining the Nuri project in 2014.

KAI was also tasked with building a first-stage fuel tank and oxidizer tank. Twenty-four KAI engineers have been dedicated to Nuri’s second launch attempt since June 2021.

The rocket engine was manufactured by Hanwha Aerospace, the space arm of the Korean conglomerate Hanwha. Hanwha Aerospace oversaw the assembly of all six rocket engines used to put satellites into orbit.

Four 75-ton engines were used in the first stage, another 75-ton engine was in the second stage and there was a remaining 7-ton engine employed in the third stage. To this day, Hanwha has manufactured 46 rocket engines, including those for the third launch of Nuri.

Meanwhile, shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries supervised the construction of the launch platform in Goheung County, South Jeolla Province. It took 4 1/2 years for the construction. Hyundai Heavy also built a 48-meter umbilical tower alongside the launch pad that was used to supply electricity, fuel and oxidizer to the rocket.

According to the government, some 1.5 trillion won ($1.16 billion) has been allocated to the 300 participating companies, and this accounted for about 80 percent of the total budget for the Nuri project.

(consnow@heraldcorp.com)