Chosun University, Continuing Glory in Developing Nuriho Cube Satellite

‘STEP Cube Lab-II’ Team Wins Minister of Science and ICT Award

Professor Oh Hyun-woong Receives Top Prize for Outstanding Industry-Academia Cooperation Case

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] On June 21 at 4 p.m., the Korean launch vehicle ‘Nuriho’ (KSLV-II), developed with domestic independent technology, was successfully launched, stirring excitement nationwide.

South Korea became the seventh country capable of independently launching practical satellites weighing over 1 ton.

The successful launch of Nuriho is significant in that it secured original space development core technologies such as the design, manufacturing, and testing of liquid engines?the heart of the launch vehicle?and space launch vehicle operation technologies.

The only regional university involved, Chosun University’s ‘STEP Cube Lab-II’ team (Professor Oh Hyun-woong), developed the CubeSat carried on Nuriho.

Even after more than four months, the glory continues. The Chosun University STEP CubeLab-II team has been recognized for their achievements by consecutively receiving the Minister of Science and ICT Award and the Grand Prize for Excellence in Industry-Academia Cooperation.

According to Chosun University on the 4th, at the award ceremony of the 4th and 5th CubeSat Competitions held at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute on the 2nd, the Chosun University STEP CubeLab-II team received the Minister of Science and ICT Award.

Professor Oh Hyun-woong also received the Grand Prize at the ‘2022 Industry-Academia Cooperation EXPO’ Industry-Academia Cooperation Best Practice Competition held at Suwon Convention Center on the 3rd.

The Minister of Science and ICT Award was given to a total of five teams: the Chosun University?Yonsei University joint team KMSL, which succeeded in CubeSat development, launch, and communication at the ‘4th CubeSat Competition (2017),’ and the Chosun University STEP CubeLab-II team, KAIST ASTRIS-II team, Seoul National University SNUGLITE team, and Yonsei University Cubesat-Yonsei team from the ‘5th CubeSat Competition (2019).’

The CubeSat selected from the 4th competition was launched on March 22, 2021, aboard Russia’s Soyuz 2.1A rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and the CubeSat selected from the 5th competition was launched on June 21 aboard Nuriho, South Korea’s independently developed launch vehicle, from the Naro Space Center in Goheung.

At the 5th CubeSat Competition, the Chosun University STEP CubeLab-II team was highly evaluated for developing the STEP CubeLab-II CubeSat for Earth observation with multi-band electronic optical, mid-infrared, and thermal infrared sensors, utilizing more than half domestically and independently developed components, and successfully receiving beacon signals in space.

Researcher Park Tae-yong said, “The title of an article announcing the first launch of Nuriho was ‘Even a Momentary Light in Infinite Space.’ I remember thinking that such interest and encouragement were the driving force that lifted engineers enduring the arduous development process, motivating us to prepare diligently.”

He added, “In the future, I will strive to become an engineer who creates satellites that shine brighter and longer in the domestic space sector.”

Additionally, Professor Oh Hyun-woong’s receipt of the Grand Prize as an excellent case of industry-academia cooperation at the ‘2022 Industry-Academia Cooperation EXPO’ also drew attention.

Selected as an excellent collaboration case with Hanwha Systems Co., Ltd. for ‘Pioneering Global Markets through Industry-Academia-Research Cooperation (Export of Infrared Detector Cooler Vibration Isolators for Satellites),’ Professor Oh was recognized for outstanding cooperation.

This award is the result of efforts since 2020 when Chosun University and Hanwha Systems signed an agreement to collaborate on satellite research and development, focusing on vibration isolator development and satellite component exports.

The vibration reduction device they export to OHB, a global space development specialist company in Germany, is effective not only in reducing micro-vibrations of varying magnitudes in orbit but also in mitigating vibrations during launch environments. As the first case of exporting a device developed purely with domestic technology to an advanced overseas space development country, it is expected to be widely applied in various satellite development projects in the future.

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