Nuri Launch: NeonSat-2 to 6 Set for September 30, 2026

South Korea's Nuri rocket is scheduled to launch the NeonSat-2 to 6 satellites on September 30, 2026, at 00:00 UTC from Launch Complex 2 (LC-2) at the Naro Space Center. The mission is operated by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), the country's national space agency.

Nuri, also known as KSLV-II, is a three-stage, fully domestically developed South Korean orbital launch vehicle designed to carry payloads to low Earth orbit. This flight deploys the NeonSat-2 through NeonSat-6 small Earth-observation satellites as part of Korea's expanding smallsat program.

When is the launch?

The launch is currently targeted for September 30, 2026, at 00:00 UTC. The status is listed as TBD (to be determined), meaning KARI has not yet confirmed a firm liftoff time, and the date may shift as vehicle processing and range readiness are finalized.

What is the payload?

The payload comprises five NeonSat satellites, designated NeonSat-2 through NeonSat-6. The NeonSat series consists of small Earth-observation spacecraft developed to demonstrate and operate a constellation capable of high-resolution imaging of the Korean Peninsula and surrounding regions. The first NeonSat-1 flew as the primary payload on Nuri's third flight in 2024, establishing the design that this batch expands upon.

Deploying five satellites on a single launch marks a step toward building out an operational imaging constellation, spreading spacecraft across low Earth orbit to increase revisit frequency over target areas.

What is the Nuri rocket?

Nuri is a three-stage rocket standing roughly 47.2 meters tall with a liftoff mass near 200 tonnes. It uses domestically built KRE-075 and KRE-007 liquid-fueled engines burning kerosene and liquid oxygen, and it is engineered to deliver up to 1,500 kg to a 600–800 km sun-synchronous orbit.

Nuri made its debut flight in October 2021 and achieved its first fully successful orbital delivery on its second flight in June 2022, making South Korea one of a small group of nations with independent access to orbit. This mission continues KARI's cadence of validating the vehicle for recurring commercial and government payloads.

Where is it launching from?

The rocket lifts off from LC-2 at the Naro Space Center, located in Goheung County on South Korea's southern coast. Naro is the country's only orbital spaceport and was purpose-built for the KSLV program. You can explore the pad's location and track the mission's trajectory on the Cosmik live 3D map.

How to watch live

KARI typically provides a live broadcast of Nuri launches through official South Korean government channels near the launch window. Because the status is TBD, confirm the exact time before tuning in.

You can follow the countdown, view the full rocket launch schedule, and monitor liftoff in real time with Cosmik's launch tracker. Once the NeonSat satellites separate, they will appear among the thousands of tracked objects you can follow on our satellite tracking tools.

Why this launch matters

This flight strengthens South Korea's sovereign launch capability and grows its Earth-observation infrastructure. Each additional Nuri flight builds operational heritage for a vehicle that has already proven it can reach orbit, and the multi-satellite NeonSat deployment reflects the global shift toward distributed smallsat constellations for imaging and monitoring.

For more updates on upcoming missions, see the latest launch news on Cosmik. Launch data for this mission is sourced from The Space Devs Launch Library.

Background sources

• Nuri (KSLV-II) rocket
• Korea Aerospace Research Institute
• Naro Space Center

Follow the NeonSat-2 to 6 launch live on Cosmik. Track the Nuri rocket and its deployed satellites on our free 3D map, and enable free launch alerts so you never miss a liftoff.