Daejeon’s First Satellite ‘Daejeonsat’ to Launch into Space on Nuri Rocket in 2026

Daejeonsat, Developed by Local Space Companies,
Selected as Secondary Payload for Nuriho's Fifth Launch
Project Aims to Verify Core Technologies and Boost Private Space Industry

The city of Daejeon announced on the 11th that Daejeonsat, an ultra-small satellite currently being developed in collaboration with local companies, has been finally selected in the "Nuriho 5th Launch Secondary Payload Satellite Contest" organized by the Korea Aerospace Administration and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute.

Daejeonsat is the nation's first ultra-small CubeSat developed with local space companies at its core. Last April, the city signed a project agreement for Daejeonsat with a satellite development consortium composed of Daejeon-based space companies selected through a public contest, officially launching the satellite development process.

The Daejeonsat project aims to verify locally developed parts and technologies in space, thereby supporting domestic satellite market entry and generating substantial revenue for the participating companies.

The satellite development consortium consists of five promising small and venture companies in the space sector, each playing a key role in their respective fields. Steplab Co., Ltd., a company specializing in space mechanical systems, leads the project. CSO Co., Ltd. is developing Daejeonsat's main payload, the electro-optical camera. EPSTech Co., Ltd. is responsible for designing and operating the power system, while MID Co., Ltd. is developing a large-capacity memory payload for space use. Contech Co., Ltd. supports ground control for Daejeonsat by utilizing its own domestic and international ground stations.

In addition, numerous local companies are participating directly and indirectly in the development of Daejeonsat by supplying parts and providing outsourced services.

The city plans to continue satellite development in close cooperation with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute.

Lee Jangwoo, Mayor of Daejeon, said, "It is of great significance to launch Daejeonsat, developed by Daejeon's space companies, aboard Nuriho, which was independently developed by our country," and added, "We will actively support space companies in securing core technologies and revitalizing the private space industry ecosystem through Daejeonsat."

Meanwhile, the main payload for the 5th launch of Nuriho, scheduled for 2026, will be a cluster of five ultra-small satellites. The secondary payloads will include seven CubeSats selected in this contest, two CubeSats from domestic universities (KAIST, Chosun University, and Pusan National University) chosen through the 2022 CubeSat Competition, and the second satellite for domestic component verification developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute.