KAI joins hands with KAIST to develop small satellites

[Photo by Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd.]

Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI), South Korea’s sole aircraft manufacturer, has joined hands with a prestigious local research university to develop small satellites in a move to expand presence in the aerospace industry.

KAI said on Monday that it signed a business partnership agreement with Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) to promote research and development of small satellites to commercialize them.

Under the agreement, the two entities will develop small and micro satellite system and ground station. They will also create nano and micro satellite components and work towards technology commercialization including technology transfer. They will also share equipment.

Small satellites refer to those that weigh under 500 kilograms, and micro satellites under 100 kilograms. Compared to medium- and large-size satellites, miniaturized ones require shorter R&D and manufacturing periods and are less expensive in development, allowing the launch of several satellites with the same budget.

By integrating small satellite technology to its extensive knowhow in manufacturing medium- and large-size satellites, KAI plans to develop convergence solutions among satellites in different sizes in space.

For example, launching several small satellites to low orbit and linking them with existing medium- and large-size satellites should improve transmission speed, which would make it easier to build next-generation mobile network, enable more accurate weather forecast, disaster prevention and surveillance patrol.

An unnamed official from KAI said that the convergence solution among small, medium, and large satellites will enable satellite services for Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous driving, and sixth-generation (6G) telecommunications. The service would also be possible with the launch of only medium and large-size satellites but at higher cost.

The latest partnership with KAIST, KAI will expand satellite business that currently accounts for less than 10 percent of its total revenue, the official said.

Ahn Hyun-ho, chief executive of KAI, said that the satellite sector is a prospective area for growth in advanced convergence market. The close partnership with academia will expedite its effort to make an inroad into the private aerospace industry amid expected growth in demand for future high-speed network using satellites.

KAI has secured knowhow and technical skills in satellite development by participating in various medium- and large-size satellite projects such as Korea Multi-purpose Satellite, known as Arirang 1 to 7, and geo-stationary multi-purpose satellite.

In August, KAI set up the country’s largest private space center in South Gyeongsang Province that allows satellite development, production, assembly, and testing all in one location.

KAI plans to secure 500 kilogram standard satellite platform by developing next-generation medium-size satellites, mass produce them and export them. Its next-generation medium-size satellite development project involves developing six units including those for ground detection, environment, and space science and launching them by 2025. The first phase of the project involves developing the first two units and the second phase the remaining four units.

KAI has also advanced into defense satellite sector via the 425 project to develop reconnaissance satellites.

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