Goheung: South Korea's homegrown space rocket, Nuri, was transported to a launchpad on Tuesday, setting the stage for its fourth launch scheduled later this week. The 200-ton rocket was positioned upright at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, 473 kilometers south of Seoul, after being moved from a nearby assembly building.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the transport procedure was delayed by 1 1/2 hours due to unfavorable weather conditions. The rocket was moved using a special vehicle at a speed of 1.5 kph. Installation procedures were still ongoing late into the evening and were expected to continue into Wednesday morning, as stated by the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA).

KASA announced that the launch operation is set to begin on Wednesday afternoon, with remaining procedures to be completed in the morning. Despite the delays, the Nuri is expected to lift off early Thursday as planned. This launch marks the fourth attempt of the Korea Space Launch Vehicle II (KSLV-II), with Hanwha Aerospace Co. overseeing the assembly process for the first time, aligning with the government's strategy to transition space technologies to the private sector.

South Korea's initial launch of the Nuri in October 2021 was unsuccessful in entering orbit, carrying a 1.5-ton dummy satellite. A second attempt in June 2022 successfully placed a Performance Verification Satellite (PVSAT) and a 1.3-ton dummy satellite into orbit. The third launch in May 2023 was a success, with a next-generation small satellite and seven cube satellites reaching orbit.