Hanwha's Engine and Hyundai Heavy's Launch Pad... Signal Flare for Private-Led Space Industry

Hanwha Develops
75t-Class Liquid Rocket Engine
Capable of Withstanding Extreme Conditions

Hyundai Heavy Industries Builds Launch Pad
Also Constructs Fueling Tower

KAI Oversees Assembly
Using Parts from 300 Participating Companies

A worker is inspecting an aircraft engine at the Hanwha Aerospace Changwon plant.

[Asia Economy Reporters Jeong Dong-hoon and Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist] The success of the Korean launch vehicle ‘Nuriho’ was also thanks to the efforts of domestic private defense industry companies. About 300 domestic companies, each perfectly fulfilling their roles, are regarded as the unsung heroes who ushered in the dawn of Korea’s space industry. With this successful launch, it is expected that the era of private-led space industry will fully open in Korea.

According to the industry on the 22nd, about 300 domestic private companies including Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), Hanwha Group, and Hyundai Heavy Industries participated in the development of Nuriho. These companies were involved in all processes including design, manufacturing, testing, and launch. Behind the success of Nuriho, the investment and contributions of domestic companies that took charge of everything from engine production to system assembly and launch pad construction were also evaluated as crucial.

The success of the Nuriho launch is like a signal flare for the private-led aerospace industry. Until now, the space industry, which requires astronomical costs and advanced technology, has mainly been led by the government in Korea. However, with the active investment of domestic conglomerates such as Hanwha and Hyundai Heavy Industries, the transition to a private-led space industry era is expected to accelerate.

The engine, a core component of Nuriho, was handled by Hanwha Aerospace, a space business affiliate of Hanwha Group. Nuriho is equipped with a total of six engines: four 75-ton class liquid engines in the first stage, one 75-ton class engine in the second stage, and one 7-ton class engine in the third stage. Hanwha Aerospace was responsible for the total assembly and delivery of these six engines. Among them, the 75-ton class liquid rocket engines delivered by Hanwha Aerospace are the key components that launch Nuriho into space, designed to withstand all extreme conditions while the launch vehicle overcomes gravity and reaches orbit.

Hanwha has identified space as a future growth engine and is increasing its investments. The group established the ‘Space Hub,’ a consultative body overseeing its space industry, last year. It invested about 110 billion KRW in the domestic satellite specialist company ‘Satrec Initiative’ and about 350 billion KRW in the UK space internet company ‘OneWeb’ last year, expanding its space business portfolio.

Hyundai Heavy Industries, based on its experience building the Naroho launch pad in 2013, took charge of constructing the Korean launch vehicle launch pad for the Nuriho project. From 2016 to last year, Hyundai Heavy Industries built the dedicated second launch pad for Nuriho in Goheung County, Jeollanam-do, over approximately four years and six months. They also constructed the 48-meter-high umbilical tower that supplies fuel to Nuriho. Hyundai Heavy Industries explained that they raised the localization rate of the launch pad system process technology to 100% in this Nuriho project. Additionally, Hyundai Rotem contributed by establishing the propulsion system and propulsion supply system test facilities to reliably test Nuriho’s performance before launch.

KAI has participated in the Korean launch vehicle (KSLV-II, Nuriho) development project since 2014. They directly manufactured the first-stage fuel tank and oxidizer tank and were responsible for the total system assembly. They played a supervisory role in assembling products delivered by about 300 companies. To develop Nuriho 2, KAI dispatched 30 engineers to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. Following the successful launch of Nuriho 2, KAI is also developing the next-generation medium satellite 2 and has signed a launch contract with Elon Musk’s SpaceX for the next-generation medium satellite 4.

For the Nuriho launch, the Army, Navy, and Air Force were all mobilized. The Navy’s Aegis destroyer (KDX-III, 7,600-ton class) waited about 320 km south of Jeju Island, tracking the orbit and speed of Naroho and confirming the debris fall area. The Aegis destroyer is equipped with the SPY-1D radar, which has a maximum detection range of 1,054 km and can simultaneously track over 1,000 targets.

The Air Force’s Space Information Situation Room received satellite separation information from the U.S. Combined Space Operations Center and shared it with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and others. The Air Force Operations Command’s Space Operations Unit prepared for any emergencies. Using an electro-optical satellite monitoring system, they monitored Naroho for potential collisions with other satellites or space debris.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.