S. Korea successfully launches homegrown space rocket

South Korea successfully launched its homegrown space rocket Nuri, live footage of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) showed early Thursday.

The main satellite was tasked with space science research, including the observation of auroras. The deputy prime minister and science minister, told a televised press briefing that the fourth launch of Nuri was successful, saying it was a crucial turning point for the transition of the country's space industry ecosystem to the private-centric from the previous government-centric.

Hanwha Aerospace took charge of the production and assembly of the launch vehicle and participated in the launch operations, supervised by KARI, marking the first time that the public and private sectors jointly prepared for it.