South Korea says homegrown space rocket put satellite into orbit

South Korea's “Nuri” rocket has reached its target altitude, putting eight satellites into orbit and completing all phases of the mission.

The rocket has marked a major step in efforts to become a key player in an intensifying space race with its Asian neighbours.

The Nuri rocket lifted off from Naro Space Center on the southern coast of South Korea at 6:24 p.m. (0924 GMT) in its third flight after the launch was cancelled a day earlier due to technical glitches, Reuters informs.

Among eight satellites that were aboard the rocket, the main commercial-grade satellite made contact with a base station in Antarctica after successfully separating from the space vehicle, Science Minister Lee Jong-ho said.

President Yoon Suk Yeol touted the launch as a major step that places South Korea among the top seven countries that have put domestically produced satellites into orbit with their domestically built space launch vehicles.

"This will greatly change the way the world sees South Korea's space science technology and its advanced industry," Yoon said.

The launch was designed to load a commercial-grade satellite onto the rocket for the first time after the second test in June last year successfully put dummy satellites into orbit.

The Nuri is key to the country's ambitious plans to jumpstart its nascent space programme and boost progress in 6G networks, spy satellites and even lunar probes.