[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyun-ah ] With the fifth launch of the Korean-developed Nuri rocket just one day away, space technologies developed by domestic companies and universities are also drawing attention.

With 15 satellites set to be carried on this launch, a wide range of technologies—including not only the satellites themselves but also cameras, batteries, and communications equipment; the fairings that protect the satellites; and ground station technology that supports post-launch communication and orbital operations—will be validated in space.

The fifth launch of the Nuri rocket is scheduled for 12:25 p.m. on the 7th at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province. It will carry five “NeonSat” microsatellites (Nos. 2–6) from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) as the primary payload, along with 10 CubeSats developed by domestic industry, academia, and research institutes.

The mission will also carry a significant amount of technology from universities and startups founded by professors. There are three CubeSats alone that were developed with the participation of professors and students from Korea Aerospace University.

StepLab, a startup founded by Professor Oh Hyun-woong of Korea Aerospace University, was responsible for the system integration of the 16U-class microsatellite “DaejeonSat-1.” This satellite integrates technologies from five space companies in the Daejeon region and will validate four types of payloads developed by domestic companies in actual space conditions.

StepLab also developed the selfie camera and solar panel modules to be installed on the satellite. In particular, the company independently developed the 16U-class deployment tube “STEP-POD16,” which protects the satellite from vibrations and shocks during launch. Since there were no suitable 16U-class deployment tubes available domestically, the company developed the equipment itself and will establish a track record of spaceflight through this launch.

Quaternion, founded by Professor Song Yong-kyu of Korea Aerospace University, developed the 3U CubeSat “PERSAT 2.” This satellite will monitor marine debris off the coast of Jeju from an altitude of 550 km for approximately six months. The company independently developed and localized key electronic components—including the mainboard, power system, communication board, and attitude control actuators—and collaborated with a Korea Aerospace University laboratory to develop the attitude control algorithm.

A satellite built by students is also heading into space. “GBSAT,” jointly developed by seven alumni of Gyeonggi North Science High School after they enrolled at Korea Aerospace University, KAIST, DG-ITX, Seoul National University, and GIST, measures cosmic radiation—including high-energy protons from the Sun. Team member Yang Jun-young, a student at Korea Aerospace University, has also founded a company specializing in metal 3D printers and sounding rockets.

Corporate technologies are also being tested in actual space environments. #LG Science Park is collaborating with the Unmanned Exploration Research Institute—a startup developing lunar rovers—to equip a CubeSat with five types of components from LG affiliates. These include a camera module from LG Innotek, a battery pack from LG Energy Solution, and a power module, attitude control actuator, and satellite communication antenna from LGELECTRONICS.

Once the Nuri rocket places the satellite into orbit, these components will undergo operational testing for 60 days at an altitude of approximately 570 km. This is the so-called “COTS” (Commercial Off-the-Shelf) approach, which involves validating commercial components used on Earth in space. It offers the advantage of reducing development time and costs compared to developing space-specific components from scratch.

Following the launch, ground station technology will take over satellite operations. CONTEC Co.,Ltd., a company specializing in space ground stations, will support initial communication and orbital operations for seven satellites: NeonSat 2 through 6, DaejeonSat-1, and O&B Space’s “Sledge.”

Immediately after launch, the company will establish communication with the satellites to confirm their status and analyze satellite deployment and initial orbital data to provide the information necessary for orbital operations. This demonstrates how domestic technology spans not only satellite manufacturing but also the ground infrastructure required to receive data from space and operate the satellites.

This fifth Nuri launch is expected to do more than simply send 15 satellites into space; it will also serve as an opportunity to validate various technologies developed by domestic companies and universities in the actual space environment. Technologies spanning the entire space industry—from the satellite bodies and payloads to electronic components, equipment protecting the satellites during launch, and ground stations—will all be put to the test at once.

Meanwhile, the Nuri is a three-stage space launch vehicle with a total weight of approximately 200 metric tons and a length of 47.2 meters. This fifth launch is being carried out as part of an advancement project aimed at enhancing launch reliability through repeated Nuri launches and expanding the private space industry ecosystem.