SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) - Korean Air has successfully completed a development test of a large deployable satellite antenna system in partnership with the Korea Institute for Defense Technology Promotion, marking a step forward in its efforts to expand into next-generation space technologies.
The airline said Friday the test, conducted last month at the CAMTIC Institute of Technology in Jeonju, involved a 5-meter-class antenna deployment system developed under a defense core technology program led by the institute.
The technology allows large satellite antennas to be folded compactly to fit inside launch vehicles and then deployed to full size once in orbit. Precise deployment in space is critical, as antenna performance directly affects satellite mission capability.
Korean Air said the test confirmed the deployment device operated as designed, demonstrating stable unfolding while maintaining structural integrity under conditions simulating the space environment. The trial also resolved mechanical interference issues within the complex structure and showed high precision through repeated deployment cycles.
The company added that the results validated the effectiveness of its independently designed antenna deployment mechanism and said it would use the data to accelerate development of a full-scale large antenna deployment system.
Korean Air said it plans to continue strengthening capabilities in future space technologies, including ultra-high-resolution Earth observation satellites capable of distinguishing objects as small as 10 centimeters on the ground.
It is also seeking to enhance capabilities in 6G satellite communications systems, aiming to play a key role in next-generation satellite programs tied to national security.
“As a leading aerospace company in South Korea, we will continue to advance national space capabilities and contribute to the country’s emergence as a major space power based on our accumulated expertise,” the company said in a press release.
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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