Space Launch Vehicle

HOME
R&D
Space Launch Vehicle

Space Launch Vehicle: the

Only Means of Space
Transportation

Space Launch Vehicle

Transportation to space
The United States and Russia have secured space launch vehicle technology since the 1950s. Europe, Jap
an, China, and India are also pursuing space development, such as launching satellites, space probes, and t
ransporting space cargo, by securing space launch vehicle technology. All of the satellites developed in Ko
rea have been launched using foreign space launch vehicles. As a latecomer in the research and developm
ent of space launch vehicle, Korea does not own a space launch vehicle yet.
Since countries restrict cross-border technology transfer for space launch vehicles, it takes much time an
d development cost and many trials and errors due to technical difficulties.
With the recent introduction of innovative recycled launch vehicles by US private space enterprise Space
X, Europe and Japan are also developing low-cost and high-efficiency launch vehicles. Moreover, many sta
rtups around the world are developing ultra-small launch vehicles capable of launching nanosatellites. Th
e global commercial space launch vehicle market is expected to expand as the number of space developm
ent countries increases and more small satellites are developed.

Development of space launch vehicle with domestic technology

KARI has cultivated its rocket design and manufacturing capabilities by developing single-stage solid prop
ulsion science rocket (KSR-I, 1993), double-stage solid propulsion mid-sized science rocket (KSR-II, 199
8), and Korea’s first liquid propulsion science rocket (KSR-UUU, 2002). It acquired space launch vehicle k
now-how and experience by developing Naro (successfully launched in 2013), the double-stage space lau
nch vehicle consisting of a first-stage liquid engine and a second-stage solid engine, through international
cooperation with Russia. It is currently developing a 3-stage Korean launch vehicle (Nuri) with domestic t
echnology to launch a 1.5t-class application satellite into a solar-synchronous orbit at an altitude of about
600~800km. The Nuri is a space transportation vehicle necessary for Korea to become a space powerhou
se and a key vehicle for stable space development. KARI plans to launch a domestically developed satellit
e using the Nuri between 2022 and 2027. With the Nuri development, Korea has finally secured the three
elements of space development: the satellite, the launch vehicle, and the launch site. They will enable Kor
ea to launch its satellite at any desired time.

Status of Rocket Development in Korea

Naro
Subject KSR-I KSR-II KSR-III
(KSLV-I)
(

Securing
Localization
technology
of single- Securing
and S
stage non- Localization base
experience de
guided of double- technology
for kn
scientific stage solid for
independently of
observation propulsion independent
developing
rockets scientific development
launch t
Purpose and observation of liquid
vehicles
exploration rockets propulsion
that can
of the with initial rockets
carry a ap
ozone altitude and small
100kg- s
layer over control satellite
class i
the function launch
satellite
 satellite
Korean vehicles
into low-
Peninsula
Naro
earth orbit
Subject KSR-I KSR-II KSR-III
(KSLV-I)
1990.7 ～ 1993.11 1997.12 2002.8 ～ 2(
Development period
1993.10 ～ 1998.6 ～ 2003.2 2013.4

Development cost (KRW

28.5 52 780 5,025
100 million)

Length (m) 6.7 11.1 14.0 33.0

Diameter (m) 0.42 0.42 1.0 2.9

Weight (kg) 1,268 2,048 6,000 140,000 2

Unit1 1993.6.4 1997.7.9 2009.8.25

Launch
Unit 2 1993.9.1 1998.6.11 2002.11.28 2010.6.10
date
Unit 3 - - 2013.1.30

-
Development -
of Korea’s D
- First
first of
- Double- liquid
satellite fir
stage solid propulsion
launch ap
propulsion rocket
vehicle sa
science independently
- Single- - Joint la
rocket developed
stage solid development ve
- in Korea
Features propulsion by Korea -
Successful - Secure
science and Russi In
separation base
rocket - Securing do
of two technology
system de
stages for small
technology -
during satellite
through D
flight launch
technical 75
vehicle
cooperation cl
with en
Russia
Nuri, the Korean launch vehicle Updates : 2021.06.25

Development of space launch vehicle with independent technology

As a Korean three-stage launch vehicle, the Nuri can directly put a 1.5-ton application satellite into a 600-
800 km solar synchronous orbit. The engine is a 75-ton liquid engine and 7 ton-class liquid engine. The fir
st stage consists of four clustered 75-ton engines, the second stage has one 75-ton engine, and the third s
tage features a one 7-ton engine.
The Nuri was developed with independent domestic technology throughout all processes of design, manu
facturing, and test. Phase 1 of the Nuri development project constructed a propulsion engine test facility
and performed the 7-ton liquid engine combustion test. Phase 2 developed the 75-ton liquid engine and s
ucceeded in launching the test launch vehicle (2018). The single-stage test launch vehicle consists of one
75-ton liquid engine to check the 75-ton liquid engine's flight performance. With the successful launch of
the test launch vehicle, Korea became the world’s seventh country to have a mid- to large-sized liquid roc
ket engine of 75 tons or more. The Nuri is currently undergoing the final Phase 3 of the development proj
ect. KARI completed the verification of the second and third stages by launching the test launch vehicle a
nd the three-stage comprehensive combustion test, and it is currently assembling the flight model. KARI
began the integrated combustion test to verify the clustering technology that bundled four 75-ton engine
s and the performance of the 1st stage. The first launch of the Nuri, scheduled for 2021, will be without a
satellite since it will focus on the verification of the launch vehicle performance. The second test launch f
or the performance verification will have the satellite loaded. Afterward, the Nuri will carry out the missi
on of launching domestically developed satellites from 2022 to 2027.

Korean Launch Vehicle's Development Plan

Phase 1 (2010.3 - 2015.7) Phase 2 (2015.8 - 2019.3) Phase 3 (2018.4 - 20

Assembly of four 75 to
Development of 7 ton- class (1st stage) + one 75 to
Test launch using one 75-ton
liquid engine Test facility (2nd stage) + one 7 ton-c
liquid engine (2018.11)
construction stage) and launch (sche
2021)

Securing the core technology for space launch vehicles

The Nuri is the first project to carry out the entire process from design to production, testing, and launch
operation independently in Korea. One of the keys to the development of the Nuri is to develop a 75-ton t
hrust liquid engine and a propellant tank containing fuel and oxidizing agents and accounting for 70 to 8
0% of the total volume of the Nuri. Over 150 domestic companies are participating in developing the Nur
i.
The 75 ton-class mid- and large-sized liquid engine development is based on the know-how of developing
30 ton-class liquid engine in previous research. KARI was able to develop the world’s 7th mid- and large-s
ized liquid engine by overcoming the technical limitations of combustion instability and completing groun
d combustion tests and flight performance tests with test launch vehicles.
KARI also independently developed a large propellant tank despite the many technical difficulties in desig
n and manufacturing because of the thickness of only 2-3mm while the diameter was 3.5m.
To overcome the problem of having to depend on overseas test facilities to check the performance of core
engine components at the time since there was no such facility in Korea, a propulsion engine test facility
was constructed at the Naro Space Center in order to verify the performance and reliability of core engin
e components, engine system, and propulsion engine system.

Major Participating Companies in Nuri Development

Area Company

System assembly Korea Aerospace Ind

Engine assembly Hanwha Aerospa

Hanwha Aerospace, S&

Turbopump
others

Combustor/Gas generator Vitzrotech

Engine
Hy-Lok Korea, Neope
Propulsion engine/supply system
Corporation, and ot

Hanwha, Neopec, Sam

Pyro igniter (starter)
Chemical, and oth

Measurement system E&E

 Measurement system E&E
Area Company
Mission Mission control system Hanwha Defense and

Ground control system, piping Hanwha, Yukon Syste

System integration
assembly, etc. UREATac

Drive system, thruster system, Hanwha, Space Solutio

and others others
Guidance control

GPS receiver NAVcours and oth

DANAM Systems, Gi
Electronics Electronic payload
Syscore, and othe

S&K Aerospace, Inno

Doowon Heavy Indus
Structure Tank, fuselage, and others
Hankuk Fiber, DACC Ae
Poongsan, and oth

Heat/Aerodynamic Heat control/Fire safety Hanyang ENG and o

Hyundai Heavy Indust

Ground systems Launch pad
others

Hanwha, Hanwha Aer

Equipment installation Hyundai Rotem, Hanya
Vitzrotech, and oth
Hyundai Heavy Industries and
others
Hanjin Heavy Indust
Construction/Architecture Gyeryong E&C, Dongil E
Development, Sunjin, an

Total length About 47.2 m

Total weight 200 tons
Diameter 3.5m

Thrust
1st stage 300 tons (four 75-ton engines) /one 2nd-stage 75-ton engine /one 3rd-stage 7-ton clas
s engine

Launch date 2021

01 Test launch vehicle Close

Comprehensive verification of safety and performance of 75-ton engines

The test launch vehicle is a single-stage launch vehicle to check the performance of the 65-ton liquid engi
ne, which is the main engine and is applied to the first and second stages of the Nuri, through actual flight
s. The test launch vehicle launched in the afternoon of November 28, 2018 from the Naro Space Center in
Goheung-gun, Jeonnam exceeded the target time of 140 seconds and burned for 151 seconds, reaching a
maximum altitude of 209 km and then falling to the point of about 429 km on the southern open sea. The
test confirmed the soundness of the performance of ground systems such as structures, electronics, contr
ols, heat/aerodynamics, launch pad, and tracking system, which are subsystems that make up a launch veh
icle, including liquid engines developed with domestic technology.
With the successful launch of the test launch vehicle, Korea became the world’s 7th country to have the t
echnology to develop medium and large liquid rocket engines of 75 tons or more. The test launch vehicle's
development and launch were named one of the Top Ten Outstanding Research Outcomes in 2018 by the
National Research Council of Science and Technology.

Specifications Total length of 25.8m

Total weight 52.1 tons
Diameter 2.6m.

Thrust 75 tons
Launch date November 28, 2018

02 Nuri engine Close

Engine development with domestic technology

KARI developed an engine, considered the heart of the Korean launch vehicle (Nuri), with domestic techn
ology. Except for some such as the bearings used in the engine turbopump, all parts were successfully loca
lized. The complex liquid engines of space launch vehicles were engineered and manufactured with Korea
n technology.
Even developed countries possessing long-time accumulated engine development know-how, professiona
ls, and infrastructure require a considerable amount of physical time to develop a new engine. The averag
e development period for major liquid rocket engines using non-toxic propellants is 9.17 years. An engine
using a liquid oxygen-kerosene (fuel oil) combination requires an average of 8.50 years. An engine with liq
uid oxygen-liquid hydrogen combination requires an average of 9.83 years.

Liquid engine configuration

- Combustor: A device that produces propulsion by ejecting high-temperature, high-pressure gas generat
ed by the combustion reaction of fuel and oxidizer through nozzles
- Turbopump: A device that supplies high-pressure fuel and oxidant to the combustion chamber
- Gas generator: A drive that drives the turbopump turbine through the combustion reaction of high-pres
sure gas
- Supply system parts such as valves

Engine Gas
= Combustor + Turbopump + +
System Generator

Engine performance test like quenching

Liquid rocket engines have many risk factors because they must be built to provide the best performance
while violent chemical reactions occur inside the liquid engine at the same time. Therefore, securing relia
bility is most important, and repeated tests are essential to apply the newly developed engine to rockets.
The Nuri's 75-ton liquid engine, developed with domestic technology, overcame technical difficulties such
as combustion instability in the early stages of development and confirmed the flight process's combustio
n performance through a test launch in 2018. KARI has continuously conducted engine combustion tests
to ensure the performance and reliability of the 75-ton engines.
The 75-ton engine used in the Nuri’s first stage should burn for 123 seconds, and the second-stage 75-ton
engine for high altitude needs to continue combustion for 142.2 seconds. A total of 25 75-ton engines we
re assembled and tested in April 2016 until November 2020. Units 1 and 2 were manufactured to determi
ne each component's operability and performance and the various sequences of the important engines. A
s a result, unit 3 and later one have had a shape similar to that of the flight model. Afterward, KARI deliver
ed the test launch vehicle certified model and flight model after successful acceptance tests and continuo
usly conducted the engine verification test. As of November 2020, 25 75-ton engines had been produced,
and they have gone through a cumulative combustion time of 16,690 seconds in 168 tests. The single long
est combustion time was 260 seconds.
Moreover, the initial layout of the 7-ton engine was designed by identifying and correcting problems thro
ugh the power pack tests from April 2015 before the engine test. After that, the engine assembly process
was established through manufacturing and assembly, and the first combustion test was successfully con
ducted in July of the same year. The 7-ton engine's flight model assembly began after the manufacturing a
nd test following the three-stage certified model. Since the three-stage liquid engine does not operate du
ring the first and second stages of flight but is exposed to a vibrating environment, a vibration environme
nt test was conducted to verify structural stability and operability during combustion. Eleven 7-ton engin
es were developed, achieving cumulative combustion time of 16,385.7 seconds in 89 tests.

Enduring extreme conditions: the engine combustion test

According to the engine’s operating environment, combustion tests can be divided into ground combustio
n tests and high-altitude combustion tests. The ground combustion test checks whether the engine opera
tes normally at an altitude of about 50 km, which is the operating section of the first stage of the Nuri. Th
e key to the high-altitude combustion test is to verify that the engine operates normally at an altitude of 5
0 km or higher, which is the operating section of the second and third stages of the Nuri. The propulsion e
ngines operating in high-altitude environments, such as double-stage 75-ton engines for the 2nd stage an
d the 7-ton engines for the 3rd stage, have a very high nozzle expansion ratio since the atmospheric press
ure of the operating altitude is much lower than that of the ground. As a result, it is difficult to measure th
e thrust accurately through a combustion test on the ground because of the flow separation phenomenon
wherein the nozzle fluid does not flow well but appears irregularly away from the wall. Therefore, it is nec
essary to simulate the actual flight environment on the ground and check the exact thrust characteristics
such as ignition and combustion to prove the propulsion engine's performance on the ground.

Clustering of four engines for a powerful thrust

The Nuri’s first stage has adopted a clustering method that generates 300 tons of thrust by bundling four
75-ton liquid engines. Clustering is a method of bundling multiple engines together to generate the neces
sary thrust. Although it can exhibit strong power while maintaining structural stability, the clustering met
hod is difficult to control compared to a one-engine operation. Control becomes more difficult as there ar
e more engines bundled. In engine clustering, multiple engines must produce the same thrust as if they we
re one engine. Fuel and oxidant must be supplied to all engines with the same requirements to ensure suc
h. It is necessary to maintain constant temperature, pressure, and flow rate for the four engines to perfor
m the same as if they were one engine. Moreover, the engine components such as the turbopump, piping,
and combustor must have high reliability. It is also important to secure a technology that can determine w
hether the four engines' thrust is normal and how much the engine thrust error is. Maintaining the engine
s' level and balance is an important factor in preventing the four engines from interfering with each other
when they are ignited simultaneously and in developing a highly reliable engine.

The fruit of complex and precise space technology

The space launch vehicle's liquid engine is the output of extreme technology, and many technical difficulti
es arose during the development process. First of all, the highly explosive fluid must be stably controlled a
t extreme temperatures and high pressures. The Nuri’s liquid rocket engine reacts with kerosene and liqui
d oxygen at -183°C to generate propulsion through combustion. When combustion starts, the engine com
bustion chamber’s internal temperature soars to 3,000°C. The fluid with extreme temperature difference
between -183° and 3,000°C must be operated within the confined engine space.
Above all, developing a liquid rocket engine is difficult because of its complex structure. It is also hard to i
gnite a space launch vehicle’s liquid engine. Ignition requires valves and components supplying fuel and ox
idant in an extremely short time of less than a second to operate correctly in a precisely defined sequenc
e. Nuri's 75-ton engine burns 255 kg of fuel and oxidant per second, and even a slight startup sequence er
ror can lead to an explosion. The same principle of the gas stove used at home is at work; when it is turned
on, an explosive ignition occurs instantly when the spark rises even with a slight delay.

Advanced research and development of multistage combustion cycle engines

KARI is also conducting preliminary research on future space launch vehicles while developing the Nuri. It
is developing a 9-ton multistage combustion-cycle liquid engine with high combustion efficiency in paralle
l, although it is more difficult to develop than the existing open-cycle liquid engine.
KARI has completed more than 60 tests, including a single combustion test for a maximum of 600 seconds
since 2016 to develop a multistage combustion-cycle engine for which only some advanced countries suc
h as the United States, Russia, and China have the technology. It confirmed the ability to lower the engine
thrust by up to 40%.
The multistage combustion cycle engine will be used to improve the performance of the Korean launch ve
hicle (Nuri) in the future. Applying the 9-ton multistage combustion cycle engine to the space launch vehi
cle to be developed after the Nuri is expected to increase the payload weight from 1.5 tons to 2.7 tons. M
oreover, it can put two or more satellites into various orbits and even launch a lunar probe.
KARI is also developing a combustor that can withstand higher combustion pressure than the existing 75-
ton class combustor to improve the 75-ton class engine's performance.

Performance of Multistage Combustion Cycle Engine

category Design specification

Vacuum thrust (tonf) 8 - 10 tonf

Vacuum non-thrust, lsp (sec) Last 350 seconds or more

Mixing ratio (O/F) 2.5 - 2.6

Turbo pump inlet pressure(bar) 4/1.5

Combustion pressure of the smoke absorber 210 bar More

Main Combustor Combustion Pressure 90 bar More

Propulsion agent LOX/Kerosene

Engine cycle Staged Combustion

Weight(kg) 300 kg Less than

Operating hours 600 second Less than

Composed of turbopump, combustor, gas generator, and various valves

Four 75-ton thrust engines (1st stage), one 75-ton class engine (2nd stage), and one 7-ton class e
ngine (3rd stage)

912 Kg per 75-ton engine for the 1st stage, 1,115kg per 75-ton engine for the 2nd stage, and 18
7 kg for the 7-ton engine

03 Solid propulsion engine Close

A space launch vehicle in the United States, Europe, Japan, and India uses a launch vehicle with solid boos
ter to improve the performance, a launch vehicle applying the solid engine at the top, and a launch vehicle
using solid engines in all stages to reduce the form factor. They are used for satellite launch and space exp
loration missions.
Due to the Korea-US Missile Guideline, Korea was not permitted to acquire or possess solid propulsion en
gines of 1,000,000 lb•sec or more on a total impulse basis. However, the July 2020 revised Guideline allo
ws the development and use of solid-state propulsion engines without restrictions on space launch vehicl
es.
※ Korea-US Missile MOU (1979, range 180 km) → Korea-US Missile Guideline (2001, range 300 km) → R
evised Korea-US Missile Guideline (2012, range 800km) → Revised Korea-US Missile Guideline (2020, no
restriction in the range)
Accordingly, KARI plans to increase the launch mission's flexibility by using a solid propulsion engine after
the development of the Korean launch vehicle (Nuri). The three-stage Korean launch vehicle (Nuri) is equi
pped with a solid fuel upper motor that generates 1.2 million pounds of thrust. If configured in four stage
s, it can send a lunar landing ship weighing about 300 kg to the moon.
 04 Nuri propellant tank Close

Development of propellant tank with advanced technology

The Nuri is a space launch vehicle that uses cryogenic oxidizing agents and room temperature fuel as prop
ellants. Most parts of the launch vehicle consist of a propellant tank containing fuel and oxidant, and the p
ropellant tank accounts for 70-80% of the projectile volume. Reducing the propellant tank weight leads di
rectly to the launch vehicle’s performance improvement. Therefore, the propellant tank is made of lightw
eight yet durable aluminum alloy and configured with a cylinder corresponding to the body and a dome co
rresponding to the head.
Nuri's propellant tank has maximum height of 10m and diameter of 3.5 m but is only 2.5-3 mm thick. Neve
rtheless, the propellant tank must be able to withstand 4 to 6 times the atmospheric pressure applied to t
he inside of the propellant tank and the load from inertia and aerodynamic forces during the flight. In part
icular, since the propellant tank is a cylindrical structure whose column is longer than the cross-section, t
he buckling phenomenon occurs when the load reaches a certain level.
Therefore, the inner walls of the propellant tank, considered to be the launch vehicle body, are made in a f
orm called isogrid structure to withstand such pressure and load. It is a method of efficiently increasing th
e cylindrical structure’s rigidity compared to the weight with a pattern of repeated triangular grid reinfor
cement structure. The isotropic lattice structures are derived from extremely difficult techniques that re
quire repetitive calculations and analysis. Unlike advanced countries such as the United States and Russi
a, which have a long history of space development, Korea had to find the optimal isotropic grid structure t
hrough repetitive calculations and numerical analysis since it was the country's first time to develop a pro
pellant tank for a launch vehicle.

Design and manufacturing optimized for liquid flow

Kerosene and liquid oxygen acting as oxidant are the liquid fuel of the launch vehicle, and their constant fl
ows inside the tank exert an impact. Even in automobiles and large ships using oil as fuel, this flow makes i
t difficult to control the altitude, and devices for reducing this phenomenon are installed. It is the same fo
r the Nuri’s propellant tank. Because it is much larger, and it contains large amounts of fuel and oxidants, s
trong flow inside the tank can have a devastating effect. For this reason, it is necessary to find and apply a
design and manufacturing method optimized for the tank size and flow of fuel and oxidizing agent.
In addition, the Nuri uses liquid oxygen as an oxidizing agent. Since the liquid oxygen temperature is -18
3℃ in cryogenic state, and the vaporization rate is very high, the tank plays an important role in injecting a
nd storing it.

05 Research on future launch vehicle technology Development of Close

large and small launch vehicles using the Nuri as a platform

Korea plans to develop large space launch vehicles using the Nuri as a platform to strengthen space trans
port capability. In 2025-2030, in preparation for the increase in demand for small satellites weighing less
than 500 kg, KARI plans to link and expand the Nuri technology into a platform for small satellite launch v
ehicles. The small launch vehicle is used for launching small satellites with loading weight of 500 kg or less
into space. The 1st stage applies a 75-ton engine, and the 2nd one, a 3-ton methane engine. From 2030 th
rough 2040, it plans to secure large launch vehicle platforms if necessary to meet domestic demand and p
erform various space missions of large low-orbit satellites and geostationary orbit satellites.
KARI plans to advance space launch vehicle technologies by developing low-cost, high-efficiency launch v
ehicles, nano launch vehicle technology, and solid propellant rocket technology. Following the Nuri develo
pment, KARI plans to improve the Nuri’s performance by optimizing the shape and operating conditions, e
nhancing the main engine performance, developing the upper section re-ignition technology, and reducin
g the weight and developing multiple payload/separation technologies. It will improve mission performan
ce, such as launching satellites and lunar probes. Moreover, it plans to enhance domestic industries' capac
ity through the reinforcement of Nuri-based space transport capabilities and technology transfer to the p
rivate sector.
 Additionally, KARI is developing advanced technologies that can increase the double-stage engine’s perfo
rmance to enable engine re-ignition. The application of engine re-ignition will allow missions to put multip
le satellites into the desired orbit and enable deep space exploration.

SITEMAP
169-84, Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-Gu Daejeon, 34133, KOREA   TEL : +82-42-860-2114 FAX : +82-42-860-2004
Copyright ⓒ 2021 KARI.