Five Nuri-launched satellites establish first contact with ground stations

South Korea’s five primary satellites launched aboard Nuri established initial contact with ground stations by 6 p.m. Korea Standard Time on October 7, according to the government’s Korea.net report. Yonhap’s evening launch update and an SBS television report also recorded contact with all five. The result extends the confirmed mission status beyond their earlier separation from the rocket.

The spacecraft are Nos. 2 through 6 of the New-space Earth Observation Satellite Constellation for National Safety, or NEONSAT. Nuri lifted off at 12:25 p.m. Korea Standard Time on October 7 from Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Korea. Yonhap reported that the five primary spacecraft separated at intervals of 35 to 40 seconds.

Each satellite weighs less than 100 kilograms and carries a camera designed to distinguish one-metre objects in black-and-white imagery and four-metre objects in colour, according to Yonhap. Their planned task is to observe the Korean Peninsula and nearby areas for national security and disaster response.

Korea.net’s October 8 report attributes the communications result to South Korean space authorities. It also records the space administration’s plan to continue initial operations and verify satellite performance. Initial contact therefore does not establish that commissioning is complete or that the constellation has begun its full imaging service.

Another five satellites are planned for Nuri’s sixth flight in the second half of 2027, Yonhap reported, citing the Korea AeroSpace Administration. That remains a future launch target. Korea.net reports that the administration plans at least one Nuri launch annually through 2032.