Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced on Dec. 1 that it has signed a contract with SpaceX for the replacement launch of the Next Generation Medium Satellite-2.
Through this launch contract, the Next Generation Medium Satellite 2 will be launched into space orbit aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle and utilized for national public missions such as land resource management and disaster response.
This is KAI's second contract with SpaceX, following a July 2021 contract to launch the next Generation Medium Satellite 4. Next Generation Medium Satellites 2 and 4 are scheduled to launch together aboard SpaceX in 2025.
The launch of NEX-2 had been delayed due to external factors, including the crisis in Ukraine. KAI worked with South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport to secure an alternate launch contract with SpaceX to prevent further delays.
"Amidst an unstable global launch vehicle market, KAI has been able to successfully execute an alternate launch in cooperation with SpaceX," said Kim Ji-hong, Executive Director of KAI. "We will continue to lead the NewSpace industry by ensuring that the development of next-generation medium-sized satellites is carried out seamlessly from development to final launch."
The Next Generation Medium Satellite project, a 500-kilogram standardized satellite platform, is the first project to transfer government-led satellite technology to the private sector as part of the South Korean government's policy to foster the space industry.
Since 2015, KAI has participated in the development of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute's Next Generation Medium Satellite 1, successfully transferring technology and securing its own satellite development capabilities.
In particular, since 2018, KAI has been responsible for the entire development process, including the production and launch of satellites 2 through 5, as the overall lead agency for the next generation of medium-sized satellites.
KAI recently signed a contract with ADD for the development of a microsatellite system, expanding its existing portfolio of medium- and large-sized satellites, including multi-purpose utility satellites, geostationary complex satellites, and next-generation medium-sized satellites, to microsatellites.
Based on this, we are building the first civilian space center in Korea with a satellite mass production system and preparing for the era of civilian-led Newspace.
