South Korea successfully launched the Nuri space rocket on Tuesday, which is an important step in transforming the Asian country into a space power and could bring new developments in the military field.

Thus, along with South Korea, Russia, the United States, France and Japan, it became one of the 10 countries that can place satellites in orbit with its own technology, and one of the seven countries that can place more than a ton of satellites into space. China and India.

The rocket was launched from the Naro Space Center about 350 kilometers south of Seoul, and the third stage of the rocket succeeded in placing its payload into low Earth orbit at an altitude of about 700 kilometers, about 16 minutes after takeoff.

This payload includes a simulated 1.3-tonne satellite and a verification satellite carrying four nano-satellites for academic research, whose signal was successfully captured at South Korea’s King Sejong communications station in Antarctica.

This projectile, entirely developed and manufactured in South Korea, completed its flight sequence on its first launch in October, but was unable to deploy the simulated satellite it was carrying due to a problem repairing the helium tank that later seized the engine.

Today’s launch, originally scheduled for last week, had to be delayed as well, first due to strong winds and then a sensor malfunction.

But today it all came together, including the beautiful weather that encouraged dozens of viewers to approach an observation deck at the Space Center to see the rocket take off and even successfully leave its 62-kilometer-high first stage before continuing to ascend. and disappear.

Science Minister Lee Jong-ho said at a press conference in Naro, “It’s a monumental moment for South Korean science and technology,” and described the launch as a success.

“This means that the Republic of Korea (the official name for South Korea) is expanding the sky and we’re taking a big step forward in space exploration.”

Lee recalled that in August, his country will launch its first lunar orbiter by 2027, or with a rocket from the American company Space X, a member of the Artemis program (which aims to rediscover the moon under NASA’s leadership). hopes to release the other four Nuri.

The goal of the latter will be to transfer this technology to private companies in the future and create an ecosystem that allows launching satellites for other countries.

And aside from representing a breakthrough for the aviation industry, no one is unaware that Nuri could allow Seoul to develop its military capabilities, in a scenario marked not only by North Korea’s weapons advances but also by the overall escalation in the region.

For now, although the technology of this rocket is basically a medium-range ballistic missile (those between 3,000 and 5,000 kilometers) and South Korean Army Hyunmoo missiles (800), although it can hit the entire territory of North Korea. kilometer range), last year Washington lifted the veto that had weighed on Seoul for decades over the range and weight of the bullet heads.

A liquid-fueled program like Nuri, which costs about 2 trillion won (about $1.55 billion) to develop, will in turn allow the South to put better surveillance satellites into orbit so that it can spy on North Korea and try to deploy those satellites. In this respect, it is at the same level as countries such as the United States and Japan.

Also, by 2024, South Korea is focused on launching its first solid-fuel space rocket.

Providing faster and easier loading, better storage and lower costs compared to liquid oxidizers and propellants, this technology can once again be used to develop more sophisticated and longer-range missiles.

For now, Seoul has already approved a reconnaissance satellite program called the 425, which it hopes to put five devices into orbit over the next three years, again using Space X Falcon rockets. completed, probably will no longer be needed.