Korea AeroSpace Administration said on the 3rd it will launch the Space-MaCS project to support commercialization demonstrations to secure in-orbit operational records for space parts developed by domestic corporations.
The project will run five years through 2030 with a total budget of 49.5 billion won. Parts and payloads developed in Korea will be mounted on verification satellites and launched on private launch vehicles, and their performance and reliability will be checked in orbit.
Even if space parts pass ground tests, they can face limits on commercialization or entry into overseas supply chains without an in-orbit operational record. Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) plans to establish a demonstration system covering satellite design and manufacturing, system integration, launch and mission operations to help corporations secure space verification records.
Eligible targets are domestic payloads at technology readiness level 6 (TRL 6) or higher that have completed prototype verification in space-like environments. A total of 10 will be selected for productization and additional ground tests, and they will be loaded five each onto two verification satellites built by domestic corporations.
The verification satellites will be launched into low Earth orbit in 2030 using small and medium private launch vehicles from domestic corporations. After launch, the satellites will be operated for about three years to collect performance data from the payloads.
The government will push the project by purchasing satellites, system integration services, and launch services from private corporations. The aim is to provide initial business track records not only for space parts but also for corporations in satellite manufacturing and launch.
Korea AeroSpace Administration plans to hold a briefing in August for payload, satellite platform, and launch vehicle corporations. After a demand survey and evaluation, two payloads will be selected first this year, and the remaining eight will be chosen in stages according to the project schedule.
O Tae-seok, head of Korea AeroSpace Administration, said, "This project verifies parts developed by domestic corporations in actual space to secure reliability," and added, "We will support the use of the verification results for technology commercialization and market entry."