Nuriho Engine That Exploded Unveiled for the First Time: "Failure Is Also Part of South Korea's Space Technology History"

Exhibition of 75-ton Engine That Exploded During 2020 Combustion Test

152 Tests and 15,091 Seconds of Burn Time

Failure Analysis Paved the Way for Nuriho's Success

The 75-ton class engine of Nuriho, which exploded during a combustion test in 2020, will be shown to the public for the first time in its damaged state at the moment of the accident. The purpose of this public display is to demonstrate that the development of space technology is completed only after numerous failures and verifications, by transparently revealing the setbacks in the development process of Nuriho, South Korea's first domestically developed space launch vehicle.

On July 15, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute announced that it would exhibit the actual 75-ton class engine, which exploded during the development of Nuriho, at the Naro Space Center Space Science Museum's real object exhibition hall.

The image of the 75-ton class engine 17A for the Nuri-ho second stage at the time of explosion. Provided by Korea Aerospace Research Institute

The engine being revealed this time is the 75-ton class engine (17A) for Nuriho's second stage, which exploded during a test in the vacuum chamber of the high-altitude combustion test facility at the Naro Space Center on May 13, 2020. It exploded right after the ignition command was given, during the eighth combustion test conducted for certification.

Although the 75-ton class engine used in Nuriho has been shown to the public several times, this marks the first time an engine that exploded and was damaged during development is being exhibited in its damaged form.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute collected all the debris immediately after the accident, identified the cause of the explosion, and incorporated findings from the analysis into improvements in engine design and testing procedures. The institute explained that such analysis of failures and accumulation of technical expertise led to the successful launch of Nuriho later on.

During the development of Nuriho, a total of 17 engines (14 for the first stage and 3 for the second stage) of the 75-ton class were produced. To secure indigenous launch vehicle technology, 152 combustion tests were conducted, totaling 15,091 seconds of burn time. The engine now being exhibited is a record of the repeated tests and verification efforts at the development site throughout this process.

Failure Is Also Technology... A Candid Glimpse into the Field of Space Development

The exhibit was designed to preserve the damaged form at the time of explosion as much as possible so that visitors can witness real traces of the test site. However, the turbopump, which is being used for ongoing research, was replaced with a model, and certain parts that require technical security have been covered.

The real object exhibition hall at the Naro Space Center Space Science Museum, where this exhibition is being held, also features various actual objects related to South Korea's space launch vehicle development history, such as engineering models of Nuriho's first and second stages, the actual first-stage engine clustering, the scientific rocket KSR-III, and the second-stage kick motor of Naroho.

Lee Sang-chul, President of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, stated, "The Space Science Museum is a space where you can truly experience the history of South Korea's space launch vehicle development," adding, "Through the real-life exhibits that overcame failure and adversity, the public will be able to vividly feel the journey toward the successful indigenous development of a space launch vehicle."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.