[Gangnam Perspective] Nuri (KSLV-II) Shock

The wireless internet service 'Starlink,' which utilizes low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, has arrived in Korea. With just a single antenna slightly larger than an A4 sheet of paper, internet access is available anywhere. The download speed reaches 135 Mbps, allowing users to receive about 10 MB of data per second. Although this is slower than the average LTE download speed of Korea’s three major mobile carriers (178 Mbps), the cost is considerable: a minimum monthly fee of 80,000 KRW and at least one antenna, priced at 550,000 KRW, are required.
However, for users who are frequently on the move and require reliable internet service, few alternatives are as efficient. KLCSM, a ship management company under SM Group, has already decided to adopt Starlink. Lotte Property & Development also plans to install Starlink at the 22nd-floor emergency safety zone and the B1 integrated disaster prevention center of Lotte World Tower. Among the general public, those traveling the world in camper vans are already using it, and inquiries are reportedly increasing domestically.
Starlink’s greatest strength lies in its technology for launching and operating satellites. This service is possible because Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), led by Elon Musk, has launched 8,000 small satellites. After Musk conceived the Starlink project in 2015, it took three years to establish a blueprint for frequency usage and satellite operation. Since 2018, an average of 60 satellites has been loaded onto each launch vehicle. In this process, reusable launch vehicles such as Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy have significantly reduced launch costs. In this sense, Starlink is seen as a symbolic event marking the shift of space development from government-led to private-sector-led initiatives.
Against this backdrop, the fourth launch of Nuri (KSLV-II) on the 27th of last month at Naro Space Center in Goheung, Jeonnam, carries several important implications for Korea’s space industry.
First, this was the first private-sector-led launch since the government began pursuing the space industry. For this fourth launch, Hanwha Aerospace, a private company, took the lead in manufacturing, assembly, and pre-launch preparations for both the satellite and the launch vehicle. While the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and others led the first through third launches, the practical shift to private leadership in this launch is significant. In Japan, one of the world’s space powers, the space launch industry was transferred to the private sector over 20 years ago, and private-sector leadership has become the norm. When private companies take the lead, there is a greater need to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness compared to public-sector initiatives, and the potential for expansion into related industries also increases.
Second, Korea has secured autonomous capabilities in space by deploying an indigenous launch vehicle and practical satellites. In this fourth launch, the primary mission of placing a practical satellite into its target orbit was accomplished, and a record 13 satellites were carried in a single attempt. With further experience, it is expected that Korea will soon be able to launch satellites for other countries as well. Third, this launch has opened the door to expanding the space ecosystem. CubeSats developed by universities, research institutes, and private companies were also launched. Their missions are diverse, including bio-experiments, space pharmaceutical technology, space debris removal, and environmental and energy monitoring.
This is enough to be called the 'Nuri (KSLV-II) Shock.' With the successful third launch of Nuri (KSLV-II) last June, Korea became one of the world’s top seven countries capable of independent satellite launches. The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) plans to conduct the seventh launch of Nuri (KSLV-II) by 2028 and will launch a satellite with Nuri (KSLV-II) every year thereafter. While Korea has secured skilled launch technology, economic viability remains a key issue. The launch cost of Nuri (KSLV-II) is about $30,000 per kilogram, whereas SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is known to cost about $2,000 per kilogram, highlighting a significant economic gap. Not only Hanwha Aerospace, but also Hyundai Rotem and Korean Air are entering the competition for reusable launch vehicles.
The Korean government’s goal is to become one of the world’s top five space powers. To achieve this, the existing Space Development Promotion Act must be revised to enable proper private-sector participation. It is also crucial at this time to provide rational and continuous budget support so that the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), the main agency, can fulfill its role.
ksh@fnnews.com Reporter