South Korea’s domestically developed space rocket, Nuri, will be launched early Thursday, carrying 13 satellites.

The Korea AeroSpace Administration(KASA) and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute(KARI) plan to conduct the fourth launch of the 200-ton rocket from the Naro Space Center in the southwestern coastal county of Goheung at 12:55 a.m. Thursday.

Nuri will aim to reach an altitude of 600 kilometers and place one next-generation medium-sized satellite, along with 12 cube satellites, into orbit.

The launch management committee will meet on Wednesday afternoon to decide whether to proceed with fueling operations.

The committee will also review technical readiness, the launch window, weather conditions and potential collision risks before finalizing Nuri’s launch time.

This launch marks a significant shift in the nation’s space program, with Hanwha Aerospace overseeing the entire assembly process for the first time as part of the government’s broader plan to transition from public to private space development.