CEO Jose: "A Country Equipped with All the Conditions to Lead the Space Market"
Chairman Lee Jongho: "Pursue Your Dream and Create a Golden Era in Korea"
Zero2Infinity, a private aerospace company based in Spain, has entered the Korean market. It is noteworthy that Korea is the first country where Zero2Infinity has expanded its business overseas.
Zero2Infinity Korea plans to offer space tourism at high altitudes of over 32 kilometers using balloons, as well as space funeral services for pets. Furthermore, the company aims to eventually launch satellites into low Earth orbit.
Why did Zero2Infinity, a globally renowned and successful company, choose Korea over major space powers such as European countries or the United States, which have far more advanced technology, human resources, and capital in the space industry?
On July 8, Jose Mariano Lopez Urdiales, CEO of Zero2Infinity, stated, "Korea already has a mature market, to the point where there are people who have spent tens of millions of dollars on space tourism," adding, "Korea is a country that possesses all the necessary conditions to lead the space market."
He also said, "Korea has many educational institutions that produce highly educated talent, and its developed automotive industry makes it an ideal country for building the desired spacecraft." While Korea may be behind in terms of technology as a latecomer to the space industry, he emphasized that it is a country with ample potential in terms of talent and capital.
The key factor behind CEO Jose's decision to enter Korea was the persistent efforts of Lee Jongho, Chairman of the Board at Zero2Infinity Korea. The establishment of the Korean branch, which was not originally planned, was made possible by Chairman Lee's active persuasion.
Last year, Chairman Lee sent emails to about 30 renowned space companies around the world to promote the "Byul" project, which involves holding pet funerals in space. However, only one company replied?Zero2Infinity?and CEO Jose personally responded.
Afterward, they exchanged dozens of emails and built trust through Zoom calls, eventually becoming friends. Chairman Lee said, "At first, I only thought about paying a fee for the pet funeral service," but added, "As we continued to communicate, I realized CEO Jose's tremendous passion for the space industry, and I suggested that he pursue his dream in Korea."
Although CEO Jose, who has strong patriotic feelings for Spain, was initially reluctant to leave his country, he was eventually persuaded by Chairman Lee's proposal to "create a golden era for Zero2Infinity together in Korea." The establishment of the Korean branch quickly gained momentum. Chairman Lee said, "I believed that if Korea adopted Zero2Infinity's technology, the space industry here could develop even further, and CEO Jose readily agreed. We also thoroughly discussed not only the growth of Zero2Infinity, but also the advancement of the space industries in both Korea and Spain."
CEO Jose has also taken on the role of CEO for the Korean subsidiary. This makes it clear that the company's ultimate goal is not limited to space tourism and pet funeral services, but also includes launching satellites from Korea using balloon spacecraft.
Zero2Infinity was founded in 2009 in Granada, southern Spain, by CEO Jose, who is an aerospace engineer. The company is headquartered in Barcelona. Inspired by launching helium balloons with his astrophysicist father, he conceived the idea of stratospheric balloon travel, which he later commercialized and achieved notable results.
Jose Mariano Lopez Urdiales, CEO of Zero2Infinity, is answering reporters' questions at a press conference on the 7th. Provided by Zero2Infinity Korea
In 2012, the company reached an altitude of 32 kilometers with a robot on board. In 2017, it succeeded in a test flight to 40 kilometers using a prototype that combined a balloon and a rocket. Through these achievements, the company secured the initial technology needed to carry satellites to high altitudes and deploy them into low Earth orbit.
Zero2Infinity Korea estimates that the cost of a space tourism trip?ascending to over 30 kilometers in altitude over two hours and enjoying views of Earth and space for three hours, totaling about five hours?will be around 160 million Korean won.
However, since the technology has not yet been fully verified, the first space tourism trip in Korea is scheduled for two years from now. CEO Jose said, "Assuming that funding is secured, I believe that commercializing manned flights at altitudes above 30 kilometers will be possible within two years."
If CEO Jose's plans proceed as intended, Korea will become the first country to begin space tourism using balloons. Chairman Lee explained, "We plan to first introduce the pet space funeral service to accumulate technology, and then attempt high-altitude space tourism. During this time, we will work with the Korea Aerospace Administration to establish bases and factories in Korea for launching balloon spacecraft."
CEO Jose expressed confidence, saying, "Although our first business will be pet funeral services, we will soon move on to space tourism, and before long, we will also be delivering satellites to low Earth orbit from Korea."
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