KARI lends tooling for Nuri stage assembly, steps up support for system integrator

[Financial News] The Korea Aerospace Research Institute said on the 19th that it had completed moving the related tooling to transfer the Nuri stage-assembly work it has carried out at the Launch Vehicle Assembly Building at the Naro Space Center to a stage-assembly facility in Suncheon built by Hanwha Aerospace.
Starting with Nuri Flight Model No. 6, scheduled for launch in 2027, the first, second and third stages are to be assembled separately at the Suncheon stage-assembly facility. Once assembled, each stage will be transported by sea to the Naro Space Center, where the stages will be joined into a single launch vehicle in a full-vehicle integration process at the Launch Vehicle Assembly Building. Preparations for launch will then proceed.
To this end, KARI will lend Hanwha Aerospace, free of charge, the tooling it has used to assemble Nuri. Of the 204 types of tooling in total, it selected 129 types used for stage assembly and moved them to the Suncheon facility. The remaining tooling will be stored at the Launch Vehicle Assembly Building at the Naro Space Center for full-vehicle integration of Nuri.
Tooling consists of equipment and tools used to move launch vehicle components, hold them in a fixed position, and assemble or machine them precisely. It is used during launch vehicle assembly to align joints accurately and maintain consistent quality, and also helps improve work efficiency and ensure worker safety.
KARI designed and developed fixtures suited to the launch vehicle after reviewing Nuri’s assembly sequence and the functions required at each stage of the process. These fixtures incorporate assembly technology and hands-on experience accumulated during launch vehicle development. The expectation is that continued use of the existing equipment at a private-sector assembly site will help maintain assembly precision and quality while reducing the burden of developing and manufacturing new equipment.
Along with lending the equipment, KARI plans to pass on assembly know-how through technical oversight and on-site technical support. Rather than simply handing over documents and technical materials, it will share on site the process of analyzing the causes of problems that arise during actual assembly and finding solutions, helping the private sector build its assembly capabilities.
KARI President Lee Sang-cheol said, "This loan of tooling is part of the process of carrying the equipment and experience accumulated during Nuri’s development over into the private sector’s launch vehicle assembly capabilities." He added, "We will continue to provide technical support and pass on our know-how so the private sector can assemble Nuri reliably and build up on-site experience."

[email protected] Yeon Ji-an Reporter