The Korean Aerospace and Research Institute (KARI) successfully launched the KSLV-II (NURI) from Naro Space Center, South Korea at 0924 GMT on 25 May 2023. The vehicle was carrying NEXTSat-2 plus seven other satellites to a 550 x 540 km Sun-synchronous low Earth orbit inclined at 97.5 degrees inclination. However, it was later discovered that one satellite did not deploy.
KSLV-II launches on 23 May 2023 but one satellite was not deployed. Courtesy: KARI
The KAIST-built NEXTSat-2 is a technology demonstration satellite carrying an X-band SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) payload with a reported ground resolution of 5 km. The JAC satellite is a South Korean CubeSat to verify a new bus platform and optical payload. LUMIR-T1 is carrying a payload designed to evaluate the space radiation environment and its effects on electronics. KSAT3U is a CubeSat to observe weather phenomenon using an optical payload. Secondary mission will evaluate a de-orbit technology.
Finally, there were four SNIPE – Small scale magNetospheric and Ionospheric Plasma Experiment – 6U cubesats to study small-scale plasma structures. However, since the launch it has been revealed that one of these SNIPE satellites failed to be deployed. The cause of this has not yet been revealed.
