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Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)

KR

한국항공우주연구원

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), established in 1989, is South Korea's national space agency responsible for aerospace research and development. KARI's primary activities include developing satellites (like the Arirang series), launch vehicles (such as the KSLV-2), and core technologies for aircraft. It also operates the Naro Space Center and collaborates with international partners like JAXA on space missions. KARI aims to advance South Korea's capabilities in space exploration, satellite technology, and aerospace engineering.

gov civilFounded 1989
History · 1 eventMay 27, 2024 · Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) established, assumes oversight of KARI and KASSI
South Korea
www.kari.re.kr
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All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute signed a contract with SpaceX to use the Falcon 9 rocket for the first 800-kilogram spy satellite launch in the United States scheduled for 2023.

RelationshipsPlanCapabilityValue 4.6Apr 10, 2022S. Korea To Launch Spy Satellite Via SpaceX

HawkEye 360's chief strategy officer Kari Bingen stated that the sharing of intelligence is unprecedented.

GeneralGovernanceValue 1.5Mar 2, 2022Satellite images show Russia’s troop movements but can they reveal intent?

KARI indicated that fixing the helium tank anchoring and oxidizer tank structural issues will take time and that KSLV-2’s second test flight scheduled for May 2022 could be delayed.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Jan 3, 2022Design flaw blamed for failed debut of South Korea’s new satellite launcher

Hanwha Aerospace published a plan on 2021-12-06 to develop a small satellite launcher with KARI.

PlanRelationshipsValue 4.0Dec 6, 2021South Korea’s Hanwha to expand space business portfolio with rocket development

Contec was established in 2015 as a spin-off from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute.

GeneralValue 2.0Nov 12, 2021South Korean ground station operator orders its first EO satellite

Contec was established in January 2015 as a spin-off from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).

GeneralRelationshipsGovernanceValue 2.0Oct 30, 2021NanoAvionics’ Contract With South Korea’s Contec For EO Mission

Ball Aerospace developed the Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS) for the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).

RelationshipsCapabilityValue 4.0Oct 28, 2021Ball Aerospace Selected By NASA To Study NOAA’s GeoXO Program

Contec was established in January 2015 as a spin-off from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).

GovernanceRelationshipsValue 3.0Oct 28, 2021NanoAvionics signs Earth Observation mission contract with South Korea’s Contec

The ROK Air Force has improved its space situational awareness capabilities since 2017 through joint projects with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute.

CapabilityRelationshipsValue 3.7Oct 27, 2021US-South Korea joint space drills to focus on space situational awareness

KARI plans another test flight of KSLV-2 in May using the same rocket hardware and plans four more KSLV-2 launches by 2027 to increase reliability.

PlanGrowthCapabilityValue 4.3Oct 21, 2021South Korea’s 1st homegrown space rocket reaches space but fails to orbit dummy payload

The developed common bulkhead propellant tank will be used as a major component of a 500 kg smallsat launch vehicle being developed by Korean Air and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute.

CapabilityPlanRelationshipsValue 4.0Jul 6, 2021Korean Air Entering The Smallsat Product Arena

Korean Air has formed an industry and academic consortium with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, NDT Engineering and Aerospace, and Korea Aerospace University to develop common bulkhead propellant tanks for small satellite launch vehicles by 2026 with a budget of 32 billion won.

RelationshipsPlanFinancialCapabilityGrowthValue 4.0Jun 28, 2021South Korea’s top airline to develop propellant tank for smallsat launcher

Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) will stop developing 500-kilogram-class satellites by 2025 at the latest and selected KAI as its successor to lead that category.

PlanRelationshipsValue 4.0Jun 14, 2021Hanwha, KAI and LIG Nex1 to lead South Korea’s private-sector-driven satellite development

KARI plans a demonstration launch of the KSLV-2 rocket from the Naro Space Center in Goheung in October 2021.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0May 10, 2021South Korea’s space agency sets sight on missions that ‘won’t pay off until 2050’

KARI jointly developed the 500-kilogram CAS500-1 remote sensing satellite with a group of selected industry partners starting in 2015.

CapabilityRelationshipsPlanValue 4.0May 10, 2021South Korea’s space agency sets sight on missions that ‘won’t pay off until 2050’

Lee Sang-ryool has spent 35 years working at KARI.

GovernanceValue 2.0May 10, 2021South Korea’s space agency sets sight on missions that ‘won’t pay off until 2050’

If the KSLV-2 demonstration launch succeeds, KARI plans a second KSLV-2 launch carrying a real satellite in May 2022 from the same launch site.

PlanValue 4.0May 10, 2021South Korea’s space agency sets sight on missions that ‘won’t pay off until 2050’

KARI intends to stop direct development of 500-kilogram-class spacecraft by 2025 and shift focus to satellite categories that still require government support.

PlanGrowthValue 3.8May 10, 2021South Korea’s space agency sets sight on missions that ‘won’t pay off until 2050’

Lee Sang-ryool plans to spin off near-term space applications to the private sector and refocus KARI on long-term investments that he expects will not pay off until 2050.

PlanGovernanceValue 4.0May 10, 2021South Korea’s space agency sets sight on missions that ‘won’t pay off until 2050’

Lee Sang-ryool held an online news conference on 2021-05-06, which was KARI’s first news conference since he took office.

GovernanceGeneralValue 2.0May 10, 2021South Korea’s space agency sets sight on missions that ‘won’t pay off until 2050’
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