Hanwha Aerospace Develops Small Launch Vehicle System Technology with KAIST

Appearance of small launch vehicle (Photo by Hanwha Aerospace)

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Hanwha Aerospace announced on the 6th that it will carry out the system concept design of a small launch vehicle in collaboration with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).

On the 2nd, Hanwha Aerospace reviewed the concept design plan for the small launch vehicle through the Preliminary Requirements Review (PRR) meeting for the 'Small Launch Vehicle System Concept Design and Development Plan Derivation' project with KARI. The small launch vehicle refers to a launch vehicle capable of sending small satellites weighing around 500 kg into space, based on technologies secured through the Nuriho project. KARI's Future Launch Vehicle Research Group and Hanwha Aerospace have agreed to design a competitive launch vehicle for the new space era and propose a development plan.

Hanwha Aerospace signed a contract for this project with KARI in May, and after the recently held Preliminary Requirements Review (PRR), plans to complete the concept design by the System Requirements Review (SRR) scheduled for March next year. Currently, Hanwha Aerospace has stationed dedicated researchers within KARI and is jointly analyzing a sustainable and economical small launch vehicle development plan with the Future Launch Vehicle Research Group through system concept design, cost analysis, and design of the airframe, propulsion system, avionics, and ground interface.

The small launch vehicle has been gaining attention as demand for miniaturized satellites has increased due to recent technological advancements. In Korea, the need for small launch vehicles is emerging as public satellite demand grows, including a cluster satellite system under 150 kg planned for launch around 2026.

Shin Hyun-woo, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, said, "We will utilize the company's achievements in various fields to derive an economical and reliable small launch vehicle system solution," adding, "We will actively participate in future national small launch vehicle demand projects."