Seoul: The fifth launch of South Korea's homegrown Nuri rocket has been postponed until October due to problems with thrusters on nanosatellites to be carried aboard the vehicle, officials said Sunday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Satellite Technology Research Center delayed the launch from its original schedule to address underperforming thrusters on some nanosatellite payloads. Thrusters are essential for providing propulsion, allowing satellites to adjust or maintain orbits, which is crucial for nanosatellites flying in formation.

"There were some areas where the thrusters' performance fell short of expectations," Kim Jin-hee, director general of the Satellite Directorate at KASA, remarked. "We have completed the necessary improvements to enhance stability." Operators have replaced the thrusters with new ones but require additional time for further testing.

The fifth launch marks a shift where private companies will lead the launch process, focusing on deploying payloads into orbit. Kim noted, "Recently, as we have adopted mass production methods used by private companies, some areas require additional verification." Although components were replaced with products from the same manufacturer, further examinations were necessary.

A launch management committee meeting scheduled for late August will determine the final launch date. Due to the Chuseok holiday period in late September, the Nuri launch is anticipated in October. Initially, the South Korean government planned the fifth Nuri launch in June, but it has faced multiple delays.

South Korea successfully conducted the fourth launch of its 200-ton Nuri rocket in November last year, placing the main satellite and 12 cube satellites into orbit at an altitude of 600 kilometers.