Kolon Spaceworks Continues Technological Partnership with InnoSpace for Space Launch Vehicles

▶  Ultra-high-strength, ultra-lightweight composite material components to be installed on ‘HANBIT-Nano’ scheduled for relaunch this year

▶  Enhanced reliability of launch vehicle core components through advanced composite material technology incorporating flight data

▶  Sustained partnership since initial collaboration in 2023 to support growth of private space industry

Kolon Group's advanced composite materials solutions company, Kolon Spaceworks (CEO Ahn Sang-hyun), is joining private space launch vehicle company InnoSpace as a key technology partner in its commercial launch challenge.

Ahead of the upcoming launch of Korea's first private commercial launch vehicle, ‘HANBIT-Nano,’ scheduled for this year, Kolon Spaceworks is supplying core components for the propulsion system and is also discussing the development of additional parts. The propulsion system components supplied by Kolon Spaceworks are part of a technical collaboration to ensure the launch vehicle's complete operational reliability, based on data secured from previous test flights. These composite structural components, featuring the ultra-high strength, ultra-high heat resistance, and ultra-lightweight characteristics required for the launch vehicle, are planned to support InnoSpace's commercial launch challenge.

Furthermore, the success of this collaboration lies in the fact that both companies have enhanced their capabilities by incorporating the technical know-how accumulated through past launch processes into the actual component design. The core propulsion components supplied by Kolon Spaceworks, including the composite combustion chamber and pressurized tank, are designed to ensure stable performance even under the extreme conditions of high temperature, high pressure, and vibration encountered during launch. This also signifies that Kolon's proprietary composite material technology is recognized as a core technological competitive advantage in the space industry market, applied to Korea's only private space launch vehicle.

The two companies began their collaboration with the successful first launch of Korea's first private test launch vehicle, ‘HANBIT-TLV,’ in 2023. In 2024, they established a long-term R&D cooperation framework with the signing of a ‘Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Joint Development of Advanced Materials and Components for Space Launch Vehicles’. Building on this trust, they are now jointly developing integrated solutions for every stage—from design to manufacturing—in this next launch project, continuing their journey together to usher in an era of commercial launches.

Ahn Sang-hyun, CEO of Kolon Spaceworks, stated, “The space industry is a field that demands continuous challenges with a long-term vision,” adding, “Kolon Spaceworks will continue its journey alongside InnoSpace as a steadfast technology partner toward the success of the private space industry.” He further emphasized, “Based on our accumulated technological capabilities spanning from composite material design to manufacturing, we will enhance the competitiveness of Korea's private space industry and continue our journey to usher in an era of commercial launches.”

Kolon Spaceworks, formally established in 2024, is a materials solutions company spanning materials for the ocean, land, sky, and now space. It has built an integrated technology platform covering design to manufacturing across advanced industries including aerospace, mobility, defense, and space, solidifying its position as a core partner for future industries.