Korea AeroSpace Administration

-The Global New Space Forum will be held from December 4-5 to Support the Global Market Expansion of Korean Space CompaniesThe Korea Aerospace Administration KASA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs MOFA will co-host the Global New Space Forum in Seoul and Daejeon from December 4 to 5, bringing together space-related agencies from countries involved in space development, as well as Korean space companies. New Space refers to the approach where private companies, rather than the governments, take the lead space development efforts.This event aims to create opportunities for Korean space companies to expand into global market and collaborate with international space agencies. Approximately 40 Korean companies will participate, alongside representatives from 16 countries* across the Middle East, Latin America, Central Asia, Europe, and Oceania, and the United States.*16 Countries : The U.S, Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain, Algeria, Brazil, Argentina, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Lithuania, Denmark, Luxembourg, the EU, Finland, New Zealand, and Japan.On the first day, December 4, Maged Ismail, CEO of the Egyptian Space Agency EgSA, will deliver a keynote speech on the "Arab-African Space Cooperation Strategy". The forum will explore global collaboration opportunities in various space industry sectors, including global visions and strategies for space cooperation, space transportation, satellite ecosystems, space services, and space exploration. One-on-one meetings between Korean companies and international agencies will also be arranged.On the second day, December 5, foreign space agencies will visit the Satellite Integration and Test Center at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute KARI and the Space Weather Research Center at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute KASI, both located in Daejeon, to experience Koreas space capabilities firsthand.Han Minyoung, Director General for the Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Scientific Affairs Bureau at MOFA, stated, "In the space industry, foreign government contracts are typically large in scale, which makes it challenging for Korean startups to directly engage with foreign government agencies and obtain essential information." She added, "MOFA aims to provide tangible support to help our companies expand into the global space market."Lee Jaehyung, Director General at the Planning and Coordination Department at KASA, explained, "This forum will be a significant step in fostering a private sector-led space industry ecosystem that KASA envisions." He added, "We are committed to actively supporting networking and collaboration to help promising domestic companies showcase their exceptional technologies on the global stage and turn those innovations into meaningful business outcomes."Meanwhile, KASA and MOFA also organized private-sector delegations of Korean space companies in April and July this year, visiting the United States and three Southeast Asian countries to provide networking opportunities between foreign agencies and Korean companies.

Initial Operations Underway, Satellite Status Confirmed as NominalThe Korea AeroSpace Administration KASA, Administrator Yoon Youngbin and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute KARI, President Lee Sangchul announced that Arirang 7 Korean Multi-Purpose Practical Satellite 7, KOMPSAT-7, was successfully launched from the French Guiana Space Center at approximately 2:21 a.m. KST on December 2 2:21 p.m. local time, December 1. Following the launch, the satellite successfully established its first communication with the KARIs Ground Station in Daejeon, South Korea at around 1:40 p.m.About 44 minutes after liftoff, Arirang 7 successfully separated from the VEGA-C rocket.At approximately 3:30 a.m. KST, the satellite established its first communication with the Troll ground station in Antarctica and deployed its solar panels for power generation.KARI continued communication with the Svalbard Satellite Station in the far north, following its communication with the Troll Satellite Station at the southernmost point of the Earth, while closely monitoring the satellites status. In particular, when the deployment of the X-band antenna, a key piece of equipment for transmitting image data, was successfully completed, a cheer of relief erupted among the on-site researchers who had been anxiously watching overnight.After over 10 communications with international ground stations, Arirang 7 successfully established communication with the KARIs Ground Station in Daejeon at around 1:40 p.m. This confirmed that both the satellite and its payload were in good condition, marking the successful completion of all key procedures from launch to domestic communication.Through the initial communication checks, it was confirmed that the satellites functions, including the Control Moment Gyro*, are operating nominally.*The Control Moment Gyro CMG is applied to the satellite for the first time in Korea, ensuring high-mobility performance.Arirang 7 will conduct orbital testing and initial operations to check the satellites initial activation and payload integration. Starting in the first half of 2026, it plans to provide full-scale ultra-high-resolution 0.3m-class ground observation imagery.The successful launch of Arirang 7 demonstrates that Korea has independently developed 0.3m-class ultra-precision technology, which is possessed by only about five countries worldwide.KASA Administrator Yoon stated, "Arirang 7, now in orbit, has flawlessly completed all initial operational procedures, including the deployment of solar panels and antennas," and added, "Through more proactive space development, we will expand high-quality satellite information services that can provide tangible benefits to the lives of our citizens."

- 9 of 12 Secondary Payloads Successfully Communicated, 3 in ProgressThe Korea Aerospace Administration KASA, Administrator Yoon Youngbin and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute KARI, President Lee Sangchul announced the communication results for the 12 secondary payload satellites launched aboard the Korean Space Launch Vehicle KSLV-II, Nuri, at 1:13 a.m. on November 27.Out of the 12 secondary payloads, 9 successfully established communication, confirming the status of the satellites. On November 27, five satellites successfully communicated for the first time:INHA-RoSAT, developed by Inha University, communicated around 2:00 a.m. and is currently confirming the satellites functions.JACK-003 and JACK-004, developed by Cosmoworks, communicated and established two-way communication around 2:00 a.m., and are currently confirming the satellites functions.ETRISat, developed by Korea Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute ETRI communicated and established two-way communication around 2:40 a.m., confirming the satellites status through the deployment of the solar antenna and other functions.K-HERO, developed by KAIST communicated around 4:00 a.m. and is currently confirming additional functions.On November 28, three satellites successfully established communication for the first time:SPIRONE, developed by Sejong University, communicated around 1:30 a.m. and is currently confirming additional functions.COSMIC, developed by UZURO tech, communicated around 1:30 a.m. and is currently performing function checks.Sejong 4, developed by Hancom Inspace, communicated and established two-way communication around 11:40 p.m. and is currently checking the satellites status.On November 29, one satellite successfully established communication for the first time:SNUGLITE-Ⅲ, developed by Seoul National University, communicated and established two-way communication around 1:00 p.m. and is currently performing function checks.Currently, three satellites have not yet established communication: EEE Tester-1, developed by KARI, PERSAT developed by Quaternion, and BEE-1000, developed by Space LiinTech. These satellites will continue to attempt communication using precise orbital data from the U.S. Combined Space Operations Center CSpOC*.* The U.S. Combined Space Operations Center CSpOC utilizes radar, optical telescopes, and satellites in orbit, leveraging the infrastructure of the U.S. Space Forces Space Surveillance Network SSN to detect space objects larger than 10 cm outside Earths atmosphere and provide orbital information about these objects.The secondary payload satellites will undergo an initial operational phase, where they will verify their survival status and basic integrity through initial communications. Following continuous communications to confirm that all systems are functioning properly, they will begin their full-scale missions.Park Jaesung, Director General of Space Transportation Directorate at KASA, stated, "Cube satellites are at the forefront of rapidly advancing space technology, evolving through cycles of both failure and success," and added, "We will continue to make every effort to provide diverse and stable transportation opportunities, ensuring that creative ideas from the private sector can reach space."

- Arirang 7 Satellite Successful Separates After Launch- First Communication with Ground Station AchievedThe Korea Aerospace Administration KASA, Administrator Yoon Youngbin and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute KARI, President Lee Sangchul announced that Arirang 7 Korean Multi-Purpose Practical Satellite 7, KOMPSAT-7, was successfully launched from the French Guiana Space Centre at 2:21 a.m. KST on December 2. 2:21p.m. local time, December 1Approximately 44 minutes after launch, Arirang 7 successfully separated from the VEGA-C rocket as planned. About an hour and 9 minutes later, the satellite successfully established its first communication with the Troll Ground Station in Antarctica.Through this communication, KARI confirmed Arirang 7s initial status and verified that the satellite had successfully reached its target orbit via the launch service provider, Arianespace.After completing orbital tests and initial operations, Arirang 7 is expected to provide full-scale ground observation imagery in the first half of 2026.President Lee Sangchul of KARI stated, "Arirang 7 is expected to be a satellite that will significantly advance South Koreas independently developed capabilities in precision Earth observation." He further emphasized, "Once fully operational, Arirang 7 will enhance domestic data collection capabilities for disaster and emergency monitoring, as well as land management, enabling the swift and accurate delivery of critical information."Administrator Yoon Youngbin of KASA stated, "Thanks to the passion and dedication of many researchers, the successful launch of Arirang 7 has enabled South Korea to achieve world-class development capabilities in the field of Earth observation satellites." He added, "Now, as our matured satellite development capabilities are being extended to the private sector, we will actively support efforts to ensure they become a driving force for Koreas space economy."