[Market Focus] AP Satellite Surges on Outlook for Record Lunar and Cheollian Orders This Year

AP Satellite is showing strong performance. As aerospace-related stocks are attracting attention in the domestic stock market at the beginning of this year, buy orders are pouring in for AP Satellite, which has been validated through its participation in lunar exploration projects. This year is expected to mark a turning point in the space race between the United States and China, with the resumption of crewed lunar flights and the launches of next-generation rockets and space telescopes scheduled one after another.

As of 2:18 p.m. on January 8, AP Satellite was trading at 15,350 won, up 1,300 won (9.25%) from the previous trading day.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is preparing a crewed flight near the Moon for the first time in 54 years through the Artemis II mission.

China is also accelerating its efforts toward crewed lunar exploration. China is planning test launches of the next-generation crewed spacecraft Mengzhou and the Long March 10A rocket in 2026. Through the Chang'e 7 mission, China plans to attempt to search for water ice at the lunar south pole.

Lee Sangheon, a researcher at iM Investment & Securities, stated, "From this year, the development of lunar landers will become full-fledged," adding, "First, the design for the lunar lander will be completed by 2028, and in 2031, a soft-landing verification vehicle will be launched prior to the lunar lander launch to conduct demonstrations aimed at improving the success rate."

He continued, "Ultimately, the lunar lander will be launched in 2032, land on the lunar surface, and carry out various science and technology missions until 2033," and added, "AP Satellite designed and developed the main body electrical components for the lunar exploration test orbiter in the first phase of the lunar exploration project."

The researcher also noted, "The company participated in the development of small performance verification satellites," and expressed expectations that "with the growing possibility of participating in projects for lander onboard computers, data storage and processing devices, rovers, as well as small verification satellites in the second phase of lunar exploration, orders will become tangible this year."

He explained, "Cheollian Satellite 5, a geostationary meteorological satellite, is Korea's third meteorological satellite following Cheollian Satellite 1 and Cheollian Satellite 2A," and "the Cheollian Satellite 5 development project consists of tasks in the areas of system and main body, meteorological payload, and space weather payload."

He further stated, "The system and main body of the satellite will be developed by transferring public technologies secured through domestic geostationary satellite development to the private sector, thereby increasing development completeness and localization rate," and predicted, "For AP Satellite, as orders for meteorological and space weather onboard computers become tangible, order growth will accelerate this year."