The Korean Nuri space rocket is transported to the launch pad at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, 470 kilometers south of Seoul, June 20. Courtesy of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute

The authorities positioned the locally developed Nuri space rocket adjacent to the launch pad at the Naro Space Center, Monday, a day before a second attempt to send multiple satellites into orbit.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) said Nuri, also known as KSLV-II (Korean Space Launch Vehicle), is expected to be erected at the space center in the southern coastal village of Goheung before noon and undergo pre-launch checks in the afternoon.

The Korean Nuri space rocket is transported to the launch pad at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, 470 kilometers south of Seoul, June 20. Courtesy of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute

The liftoff is likely to take place at 4 p.m. Tuesday, but the time could change, according to officials.

KARI had planned to launch the three-stage rocket last Thursday but a technical glitch in the oxidizer tank sensor forced the country to call off the liftoff.

The envisioned launch will be the second Nuri launch, following a maiden liftoff last October.

In October, the first Nuri rocket successfully flew to a target altitude of 700 kilometers but failed to put a dummy satellite into orbit as its third-stage engine burned out earlier than expected.

To prevent a recurrence, KARI engineers reinforced an anchoring device for the helium tank inside Nuri's third-stage oxidizer tank.

The Korean Nuri space rocket is placed on a launch pad at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, June 20. Courtesy of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute

Nuri will be loaded with a 162.5-kilogram performance verification satellite to test the rocket's capabilities and four cube satellites, developed by four universities for academic research purposes, along with a 1.3-ton dummy satellite.

Korea has invested nearly 2 trillion won ($1.8 billion) in building Nuri since 2010. The project was carried out with domestic technology, including design, production, testing and launch operations.

The country plans to launch four more Nuri rockets by 2027 as part of efforts to further advance the country's space rocket program. (Yonhap)