Korea-Saudi Arabia Cooperation in Space Industry Including Satellite Launch and Satellite Payloads

KASA and SSA Sign MOU
First Step to Actively Support Korean Companies' Entry into Overseas Markets

South Korea and Saudi Arabia have agreed to cooperate in various fields, including strengthening capabilities in space science and engineering.

The Korea Aerospace Agency (KASA) announced on the 12th that it visited Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, along with the 'Korea-Saudi Space Economy Delegation' composed of Korean space companies such as KAI and Hanwha Aerospace, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Saudi Space Authority (SSA) to support the entry of Korean space companies into the Middle East market.

Yoon Young-bin, Administrator of the Space Aviation Agency.

On the 11th (local time), KASA and SSA signed the MOU at the SSA headquarters, agreeing to collaborate in various areas including deep space technology and communications, manned spaceflight programs, satellite launches and payloads, and strengthening capabilities in space science and engineering. This MOU is expected to serve as an important milestone to promote the development of space technology and industry and to enhance technical cooperation between the two countries.

On the 12th, the Space Agency also hosted the 'Korea-Saudi Space Cooperation Seminar' at the Saudi Space Authority headquarters to promote Korean space companies and expand partnerships with Saudi companies, leading efforts to pave the way for Korean companies' entry into the global space market.

Saudi Arabia, which established the SSA in 2018, is fostering space as a national core industry. It is rapidly growing in areas such as deep space exploration, satellite communications, and space resource development. With strong investments in satellite development and communication technologies, Saudi Arabia focuses on operating satellites for communication, earth observation, and weather forecasting, including various satellite projects such as the SaudiSat series.

Yoon Young-bin, head of the Space Agency, said, "Space cooperation between South Korea and Saudi Arabia will contribute to the industrial development of both countries in the short term and become an important cooperation model that jointly pioneers the future of the global space industry in the long term."