Anchor: South Korea is making final preparations to launch its Nuri rocket from the Naro Space Center early Thursday morning. The launch, if successful, will mark Nuri's fourth flight. Space agency officials said everything has been going smoothly so far, but that winds remain a variable.
Rosyn Park reports.

Report: The Korea Aerospace Research Institute(KARI) has scheduled the 200-ton Nuri rocket to lift off from the Naro Space Center in the southern coastal county of Goheung at around 1 a.m. on Thursday.

According to the space agency, Nuri is making its first predawn launch because its payload of satellites, including a next-generation medium satellite, must be placed in orbit in the early morning to observe auroras, measure magnetic fields and collect other data. 

Officials inspected the rocket’s fuel and electrical systems on Wednesday.

Once a final inspection is complete and all systems are confirmed to be normal, the space agency will activate the programmed launch sequence, which will begin ten minutes before liftoff.

However, if the average wind speed at that time exceeds 15 meters per second, the launch may be postponed. 

The Nuri is loaded with 13 satellites, and its weight has nearly doubled since its third launch.

The fourth attempt also marks the first time a private company, Hanwha Aerospace, has overseen the entire assembly of a South Korean rocket.

KARI said the final liftoff time will be confirmed this evening, pending weather conditions.
Rosyn Park, KBS World Radio News.