Hanwha Aerospace has expanded its foundation for private space transportation by completing South Korea's largest private spacecraft production facility in Suncheon.
On November 4, Hanwha Aerospace announced the opening ceremony of its Suncheon plant located in the Yulchon Industrial Complex in Gwangju, Jeollanam-do. The facility, covering approximately 60,000 square meters, is designed for the integration and assembly of key components for space launch vehicles. It will be used for the assembly and performance verification of the 75-ton engine and stages 1, 2, and 3 of the Nuri rocket, which is scheduled for launch next year.
In the future, the facility will also produce next-generation launch vehicles, reusable technology demonstrators, and launch vehicles currently under development by Hanwha Aerospace. It will enhance production capabilities for essential components such as methane engines and propellant tanks.
Hanwha Aerospace has identified the space transportation business as a key growth area. The company plans to enter the global space transportation market with its self-developed launch vehicle by 2029. By 2033, it aims to begin commercial launch services utilizing the Nuri rocket and next-generation launch vehicles.
To support these initiatives, Hanwha Aerospace plans to invest approximately 23 trillion won in the space transportation sector. Previously, the Hanwha Group announced a total investment of 55 trillion won in aerospace and artificial intelligence (AI) industries by 2040, aiming to establish an integrated space infrastructure encompassing launch vehicles, satellite networks, and defense AI. A significant portion of this investment is expected to be allocated to space transportation.
During the opening ceremony, a 'Coexistence and Cooperation Vision Declaration' was held with 40 partner companies involved in the production of the Nuri rocket and next-generation launch vehicles. Hanwha Aerospace plans to enhance collaboration among launch vehicle manufacturers centered around the Suncheon plant and strengthen the competitiveness of South Korea's space industry ecosystem.
Kim Sun, head of Hanwha Aerospace's space business division, stated, "The Suncheon plant is a key infrastructure for South Korea to leap into a new space era led by the private sector. We will work with domestic space companies to enhance technological competitiveness and create a foundation for the South Korean space industry to compete in the global market."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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