Daejeon: Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon on Wednesday pledged continued support for South Korea's space industry, which played a key role in last week's successful launch of the homegrown Nuri rocket. Bae visited Hanwha Aerospace Co.'s research center in the central city of Daejeon, discussing the company's achievements in the defense, artificial intelligence (AI), and space sectors, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the 200-ton Nuri rocket blasted off from Naro Space Center in the country's southern coastal village of Goheung, approximately 330 kilometers south of Seoul, last Thursday. The launch successfully placed 13 satellites, including the main CAS500-3, into orbit at an altitude of 600 kilometers. This latest launch, the fourth in the Nuri project, marked the first time Hanwha Aerospace was responsible for the entire assembly process as part of the government's long-term plan to hand over space technologies to the private sector.

The science minister also visited the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) in Daejeon, where he presented honors to staff members who contributed to the successful fourth launch of the Nuri rocket. Bae emphasized the government's intentions to accelerate AI-based research innovation through the development of an independent AI model, aiming to create an environment conducive to effective research projects by companies.

"With the era of business-led space launches by companies such as Hanwha Aerospace being opened, the government will provide unwavering support in policy, industry, security, and diplomacy to help South Korea become one of the five major space powers," said Bae, as quoted by the ministry.