Gyeongnam Province's 'Space Environment Test Facility Construction Project' to Receive Preliminary Feasibility Study Approval from Ministry of Science and ICT

Targeting Construction Start in 2024, 425.9 Billion Won Planned for Investment

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The project to establish a space environment testing facility in Gyeongnam Province has been selected for a preliminary feasibility study under the Ministry of Science and ICT's national research and development projects.

According to Gyeongnam Province on the 13th, this project is one of the core initiatives for creating a space industry cluster.

It involves a large-scale expansion and relocation of the Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL) Space Component Testing Center, currently located in Sangdae-dong, Jinju, to the Jinju district of the Aviation National Industrial Complex, increasing its scale by ten times.

Gyeongnam Province explained that this achievement was made about 20 days after the National Space Committee under the President designated Gyeongnam as a satellite-specialized zone within the space industry cluster on December 21 last year.

Satellite Specialized Zone Core Infrastructure Construction Plan Map of Gyeongnam Province. [Image provided by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

The space environment testing facility is designed to simulate and test on the ground the effects on satellites at each stage from being loaded onto a launch vehicle, entering orbit, to performing their missions.

It will be an international-level facility equipped with launch, orbit, and electromagnetic environment testing facilities, constructed with one basement floor and three above-ground floors.

The total project cost is 425.9 billion KRW, with the project starting in 2024 and aiming for completion in 2028.

The preliminary feasibility study for national research and development projects is a system that reviews the feasibility of large-scale new projects before implementation to enhance the efficiency of national financial management.

After comprehensively reviewing economic feasibility, policy relevance, and regional balanced development, the final decision on whether to proceed with the project will be made.

The province also announced plans to establish a Satellite Manufacturing Innovation Center in the Sacheon district of the Aviation National Industrial Complex as another core infrastructure of the satellite-specialized zone within the space industry cluster, alongside the space environment testing facility.

The Satellite Manufacturing Innovation Center will serve as a space hub that fosters a virtuous cycle in the industry by integrating various infrastructures necessary for satellite-related research, manufacturing, and commercialization.

It will consist of a business zone, maker zone, network zone, and corporate office spaces, with construction planned to be completed by 2026.

Shin Daeho, head of the Western Region Headquarters of Gyeongnam Province, said, “We will do our best to successfully establish the satellite-specialized zone of the space industry cluster, provide new vitality to the western Gyeongnam region, and implement effective policies that enable balanced development throughout our province.”