Hanwha Aerospace takes command of Korea's first privately led rocket launch

SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - South Korea is gearing up for the launch of its fourth Nuri rocket on Nov. 27, a milestone that marks the country’s transition from government-led space projects to a growing private-sector ecosystem.

Officials say the shift is expected to open new export opportunities for domestic defense and aerospace companies as global demand for launch services accelerates.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute said the rocket is scheduled to lift off between 00:54 a.m. and 1:14 a.m. from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province. For the first time, the mission will be led not by the government but by Hanwha Aerospace, underscoring the private sector’s expanding role in South Korea’s space ambitions.

The upcoming mission features major upgrades from the third launch, including a payload increase to 960 kilograms. Nuri will carry the next-generation satellite along with 12 CubeSats from universities, research institutions and private firms. Engineers have also modified the rocket to carry more satellites, reduce vibration and broaden camera coverage.

Hanwha Aerospace — working with more than 300 companies, including Korea Aerospace Industries and Hancom InSpace — is at the center of efforts to build a domestic launch-vehicle supply chain. “We aim to lead the private space economy by securing core technologies and operational know-how through the fourth to sixth launches,” a company official said.

The commercial potential is substantial. McKinsey & Company forecasts the global space industry will surge from $600 billion in 2023 to $2 trillion by 2035, driven by satellite services, launch demand and new applications in communications and defense.

Industry analysts say South Korea must establish a competitive value chain to capture a share of that growth, citing the cost-cutting achievements of SpaceX and Blue Origin as models.

Defense officials view Nuri’s fourth flight as a critical test of South Korea’s ability to secure a foothold in the commercial launch market.

“This year marks the beginning of the private space economy,” one industry insider said. “Hanwha Aerospace and domestic defense companies are positioning themselves to push Korea into the next space age.”

* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.

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