(MENAFN) South Korea is preparing for the fourth launch of its domestically developed Nuri space rocket next week, with final inspections underway, officials confirmed Wednesday.

Park Jong-chan, director of the Korean Launch Vehicle Enhancement Program at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), said all checks on the launch vehicle will be completed by Monday, ahead of the scheduled liftoff. The Nuri, formally known as the Korea Space Launch Vehicle II (KSLV-II), is slated to launch from the Naro Space Center in the southern coastal village of Goheung next Thursday.

“We have connected the third-stage rocket to the first and second stages, and we are carrying out the final electronic inspection on the integrated launch vehicle,” Park said, noting that specialists will also examine the rocket’s exterior before moving it to the launch pad on Tuesday.

This upcoming mission marks the first Nuri launch led by private aerospace firm Hanwha Aerospace and represents the rocket’s return to space after more than two and a half years. Its previous launch took place in May 2023. The mission is seen as a critical step in advancing South Korea’s indigenous space capabilities and expanding its domestic aerospace industry.

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