Unastella marks a new era in the Korean aerospace industry with its successful rocket launch.

Unastella's self-developed small launch vehicle UNA EXPRESS-I successfully conducts a test launch at the launch site in Bongnae-myeon, Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, at 11:50 PM on May 28./Courtesy of Jo Gwang-rae

Korea's space launch vehicle startup Unastella successfully conducted a test launch of a small launch vehicle equipped with a 5-ton class engine. This is the first case of a private corporation successfully launching a space rocket on its own within South Korean territory.

Unastella announced on the 29th that it successfully conducted a test launch of its independently developed small launch vehicle "UNA EXPRESS-I" on the 28th at 11:50 p.m. from its own launch site in Bongnae-myeon, Goheung County. This achievement came three years after the company was established in February 2022.

UNA EXPRESS-I is 9.45 meters long and has a total weight of 2 tons. It is a small launch vehicle that uses kerosene (jet fuel) and liquid oxygen as fuel, with a thrust of 5 tons. The vehicle successfully completed its flight to the target distance of 10 kilometers and fell into the maritime safety zone set by Goheung County, the company stated. Park Jae-hong, the CEO of Unastella, noted, "For the first launch, we lowered the altitude for safety and extended the reach."

Jo Kwang-rae, a former head of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and a technology advisor for Unastella, evaluated, "The significance is great in that our corporations in Korea have launched their self-developed launch vehicle." Previously, INNOSPACE successfully launched its test vehicle "Hanbit-TLV" in March 2023, but it was launched from the Alcântara Launch Center in Brazil, not from Korea.

Unastella attempted a test launch last November, but the launch was aborted due to a delay in engine ignition, which activated the flight termination system. After six months of preparation, the company succeeded in this launch.

This launch is also a result of the Korea Aerospace Administration's "Space Pioneer Project," which aims to localize aerospace industry components. The Space Pioneer Project develops core technologies up to the qualification model (QM) stage, focusing on reducing reliance on foreign technologies. The launch utilized avionics integration technology from Danam Systems and connection technology from HANYANG ENG.

The UNA EXPRESS-I carries a microgravity testing device being developed by research teams from KARI, Korea Basic Science Institute, Korea Bioinformation Center, and Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology.

Following the success of the test launch, Unastella plans to develop a space launch vehicle with an engine that includes an electric motor pump. The rocket launched this time used a pressurized tank without a pump as it was for engine performance testing. To become an actual space launch vehicle, the technology for pumping fuel and oxidizers under high pressure is necessary. Unastella set a goal to quickly create a launch vehicle for satellites based on this technology.

CEO Park Jae-hong expressed gratitude by stating, "I deeply appreciate everyone who supported us generously to ensure the success of the launch," and noted, "Unastella will continue to challenge itself to contribute to Korea's advancement as a space power."

Yoon Young-bin, head of the Korea Aerospace Administration, congratulated the successful launch of Unastella's UNA EXPRESS-I, stating, "The Korea Aerospace Administration will proactively support launch vehicle corporations to have better conditions for conducting launches."

Quelle: CHOSUNBIZ