[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyun-ah ] With the dawn of the private space development era, efforts to lay the groundwork for a “Korean-style Space Mission Assurance” system—designed to systematically manage the reliability and safety of domestic space missions—are now in full swing.

The Korea Aerospace Industries Association announced that it held a launch ceremony for the “Space Mission Assurance Research Group,” a consultative body under the association, at the PARADISE Hotel in Busan on the 24th.

Space mission assurance refers to activities that increase the likelihood of mission success by proactively identifying and managing risk factors throughout the entire process—from the development of space systems to their launch and operation. While it has established itself as a core management system in the space industry at the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and other leading space-faring nations, the institutional and technological foundations for this system in Korea are still in their early stages.

The launch of this research society is intended to establish a mission assurance system tailored to the domestic space industry environment in response to the growth of the private space sector and the expansion of commercial space development.

The research council comprises experts from industry, academia, and research institutions. Moving forward, it will serve as a private-sector-led collaborative platform to research a Korean-style space mission assurance system and policies, and to discuss the development of core technologies necessary for space missions as well as their practical application.

The event began with a progress report from the research council’s task force (TF), followed by the presentation of the appointment certificate to the inaugural chairperson, the declaration of the council’s launch, and the announcement of future activity plans.

Jang Joong-soon, a former professor at Ajou University, was appointed as the inaugural chairperson. In the thematic presentations that followed, Kim Yu-gwang, a principal researcher at KOREA AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES (KARI), presented on “The Path Forward for a Korean Space Mission Assurance System,” while Lee Ji-young, a senior researcher at the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), presented on the “Defense Space Roadmap.”

Operation of Three Subcommittees: Systems

, Technology,

and Dissemination

Going forward, the research association will operate through three subcommittees:

Systems

and Policy, Technology Research, and Dissemination.

The Systems and Policy Subcommittee will analyze domestic and international space mission assurance systems and policies to develop a plan for establishing a Korean-style system, while the Technology Research Subcommittee will promote the development of reliability assurance technologies in key areas such as space components, materials, processes, and software. The Dissemination Subcommittee plans to support industry adoption through the sharing of research results, education, seminars, and the development of testing and certification programs.

In particular, the research council plans to enhance the quality and safety competitiveness of the entire space industry by analyzing domestic and international mission assurance systems, conducting technological research in the fields of space components, materials, processes, and software, developing educational programs, and establishing testing and certification systems.

"Building Trust Is Key to Entering the Global Space Supply Chain"

The Korea Aerospace Association expects that, through the research council, domestic space companies will be able to establish a foundation of reliability necessary to enter the global space supply chain.

In his welcoming remarks, Lee Kang-hee, Acting Executive Vice President of the Korea Aerospace Association, said, “We hope the Space Mission Assurance Research Council will serve as a platform for cooperation that gathers industry input and bridges technology and policy,” adding, “The Association will also actively support domestic space companies so they can secure greater trust in the global space supply chain and markets.”

Meanwhile, major institutions and companies from industry, academia, and research—including Korea Space Technology, the Korea Electronics Technology Association, the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), HCT(072990)(HCT), KOREA AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES (#KAI), #Satrec-i, the Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL), #SeAH Changwon Special Steel, HANWHA SYSTEMS(272210), #LIG D&A, and #HyundaiMotor—participated as sponsoring organizations at the research group’s launch ceremony.