[Edaily Reporter Kang Min-koo ] A South Korean private space launch vehicle company is strengthening its collaboration with a local firm to enter the Canadian launch market.

INNOSPACE Co., Ltd.(462350)has signed a distribution agreement for small satellite launch services with RSAT Space, a Canadian space and defense systems company.

This agreement marks the progression of the collaboration—which has been underway since the two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last April—into the operational phase. After agreeing to collaborate on joint participation in Canadian government and private-sector projects and on expanding launch services, the two companies have decided to strengthen customer acquisition and sales efforts for launch services in Canada through this contract.

Under the contract, AlSat Space holds non-exclusive sales rights in Canada for INNOSPACE Co., Ltd.’s “HANBIT” series of small satellite launch vehicles—including “HANBIT-Nano,” “HANBIT-Micro,” and “HANBIT-Mini.” It will be responsible for identifying local customers, proposing launch services, and conducting sales and contract negotiations.

AlSat Space is a space and defense systems company engaged in everything from the development of satellite platforms and payloads to satellite operations. Leveraging its experience in developing and manufacturing satellite systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) electronic equipment, secure communications payloads, and satellite buses for deep-space missions, the company has carried out projects with global aerospace and defense companies and agencies such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It has also served as the prime contractor on projects for the Canadian Department of National Defense.

Following the signing of launch service distribution agreements with two U.S. companies—Arrow Science and Technology in August of last year and Ensemble Commercial Services in May of this year—INNOSPACE Co., Ltd. has now secured a regional partner in Canada.

Going forward, the company plans to expand its local sales network—which has been built primarily in the U.S.—to Canada and strengthen business development in North America by leveraging local partners specialized in each country’s market environment and customer networks.

Gurvinder Chohan, CEO of AlSat Space, stated, “As demand for low-cost, rapid launch solutions grows, particularly among the Canadian government and private sector, we are pleased to offer local satellite companies a new option to utilize INNOSPACE Co., Ltd.’s ‘Hanbit’ launch vehicle,” adding, “Given the productive partnership we have maintained since signing the MOU, we look forward to providing new business opportunities to customers across Canada.”

Kim Su-jong, CEO of INNOSPACE Co., Ltd., stated, “We have advanced the collaboration established through the MOU with AlSat Space last April into a concrete business implementation phase focused on strengthening local sales cooperation for launch services in Canada,” and added, “In Canada, where a satellite industry infrastructure and government and private-sector demand for space services are well-established, we will expand our customer reach for launch services in partnership with a local partner possessing on-the-ground business experience and a customer network to identify new business opportunities.”