Hanwha Aerospace Enters $1.8 Trillion Space Industry [Yang Nakgyu's Defence Club]

Accelerating Satellite Development and Communication Services After the Fourth Nuri Rocket Launch Success
Leading the Fifth Launch from Next Year... Speeding Up High-Resolution Satellite Development

With the successful launch of the Nuri rocket, Hanwha Aerospace, which pioneered the New Space era led by the private sector, is accelerating its entry into the space market. According to global consulting firm McKinsey, the space market is expected to grow to 1.8 trillion dollars (approximately 2,700 trillion won) by 2035. This figure includes not only launch vehicles but also high value-added markets such as satellites, satellite navigation systems (GPS), and communications. With the Nuri rocket launch, Hanwha Aerospace is expected to strengthen its dominance in the space market by simultaneously securing proprietary reconnaissance satellites, space exploration capabilities, and missile technology.

According to industry sources and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute on November 27, Hanwha Aerospace, as the private sector system integrator (the company overseeing the development and operation of the launch vehicle), managed every step of the Nuri rocket's fourth launch, from manufacturing and assembly of the launch vehicle to managing component suppliers, right up until the moment before launch.

With the success of this satellite launch led by a private company, the satellite-related market, including space transportation, is also expected to expand. Hanwha Systems, a defense company, plans to further improve satellite resolution. Currently, the highest resolution of commercially available SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellites is 25 centimeters. These satellites synthesize reflected data after emitting radar signals to the ground to create images, allowing identification of objects as small as the size of a book. Currently, American companies Umbra and Capella Space possess 25-centimeter-class high-resolution satellite technology, and European companies Airbus and ICEYE have also reached the threshold of commercialization. Although China does not disclose information, it is also believed to have succeeded in developing 25-centimeter-class technology. Hanwha Systems plans to advance its technology to the 15-centimeter level. The company has set an internal goal to develop this technology, which can identify objects as small as a mobile phone, by the end of 2027.

Hanwha plans to build a value chain for its space business that connects space transportation services, satellite manufacturing, and satellite services. In July, Hanwha Aerospace acquired the Nuri rocket development technology from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. As a result, the company secured a non-exclusive license to manufacture and launch the Nuri rocket independently until 2032. The license period was set to 2032 to coincide with the expected completion date for the next-generation launch vehicle, in which Hanwha Aerospace is also participating as a system integrator.

The space market, including satellites, is expected to expand even further in the future. Through the fifth and sixth Nuri rocket launches scheduled to take place sequentially from next year, Hanwha Aerospace will be able to launch satellites capable of port logistics tracking, wildfire and flood prediction, and urban infrastructure safety inspections. In addition, activities such as monitoring crop growth to predict agricultural yields and detecting small fire outbreaks in advance will also become possible.

Communication network services can also be applied. Services similar to those offered by satellite communication companies like Mountain View in the United States can be provided. Due to the nature of satellite communication, there are no national borders. For mobile communication, users must go through procedures such as roaming or changing SIM cards when traveling abroad. However, satellites provide a single communication zone that connects the entire Earth, so there is no need for roaming or other procedures overseas. Hanwha can also lead military satellite launches. The military plans to launch an ultra-small synthetic aperture radar (SAR) verification satellite into space in the second half of next year. Once the ultra-small satellite force is completed, it is expected to serve as a key asset in the military's "kill chain," operating complementarily with the five medium- to large-sized military reconnaissance satellites weighing 800 to 1,000 kilograms to be secured through the "425 Project."

The pace of military missile development is also accelerating. Space launch vehicles like the Nuri rocket share many technical similarities with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), such as rocket engines and stage separation technology. This is why the international community views North Korea's satellite launches as part of ICBM development. However, there are differences, such as re-entry technology and types of fuel used. The Nuri rocket uses liquid fuel, so it cannot be considered an ICBM, which uses solid fuel. The South Korean military is already developing the Hyunmoo-6, a high-powered ballistic missile with a warhead weighing about 8 tons, capable of striking all of North Korea. These high-powered ballistic missiles under development by the military are considered to have the world's most powerful explosive force among conventional warheads, excluding nuclear warheads.