Marking a Major Step Toward Strengthening Korea’s Satellite Navigation Capability
The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) announced that they have signed a launch services contract with SpaceX on September 23 for the successful launch of the first satellite of the Korean Positioning System (KPS), which is scheduled for September 2029.
Through this agreement, KASA has taken a significant step toward securing an independent national satellite navigation capability, marking an important milestone in the construction and operation of the full KPS constellation.
The first KPS satellite will be Korea’s first navigation satellite, operating in an Inclined Geo-Synchronous Orbit (IGSO). Beginning with this launch in September 2029, KASA plans to complete the full KPS constellation by 2035, deploying a total of eight satellites ― five in IGSO and three in Geostationary Orbit (GEO).
Once the entire KPS system is successfully established and begins providing navigation services across the Korean Peninsula and its surrounding regions, Korea will become the seventh nation in the world to operate an independent satellite navigation system, following the United States (GPS), Russia (GLONASS), Europe (Galileo), China (BeiDou), Japan (QZSS), and India (NavIC).
Kim Jin-hee, Director General of the Satellite Directorate at KASA, stated, “The KPS will serve as a critical infrastructure not only for improving everyday convenience but also for enhancing public safety and the competitiveness of future industries. Beginning with the first launch in 2029, KASA will work to complete the full system by 2035 and provide stable, reliable services.”