Nara Space Makes Final Cut for '2025 Deep Tech Startup 1000+'

Nara Space achieves a splendid feat, selected as an 'Ultra-gap Startup'! Stands tall as a leading company in future space security technology. Nara Space has been named in the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' '2025 Ultra-gap Startups 1000+' project, solidifying its deep-tech leadership in the aerospace sector. This achievement comes as a result of high evaluations for its satellite development capabilities and the potential for technological application in future strategic security sectors. Notably, among the 182 companies selected this year, only 5 in the aerospace field were chosen, a remarkable accomplishment. The 'Ultra-gap Startups 1000+' project is a national initiative aimed at intensively fostering deep-tech startups that will lead 10 major future strategic industries, including system semiconductors, bio-health, and aerospace-ocean. Nara Space was recognized for its comprehensive solution capabilities, autonomously performing the entire process from the design and manufacturing of microsatellites to their launch, operation, and data analysis. Key competitive strengths for this selection included the advancement of its microsatellite system and its On-Board AI-based video analysis technology utilizing star tracker data, both of which were highly praised. This innovative technology allows for the integration of AI modules into satellite systems without major modifications, enabling the monitoring of space objects with star tracker imagery even during idle periods when attitude control is not active. This is expected to maximize satellite operational efficiency and significantly expand its applicability in strategic areas such as space surveillance, space traffic management, and national defense/disaster response. Through this selection, Nara Space will receive direct financial support totaling 1.1 billion won, including up to 600 million won in commercialization funds over three years and up to 500 million won in research and development (R&D) funds after a separate evaluation. With these funds, the company plans to actively pursue advanced satellite platforms, high-performance video processing AI models, and expanded global partnerships. Park Jae-pil, CEO of Nara Space, stated, "Being selected as an Ultra-gap Startup is a significant achievement that recognizes Nara Space's technological prowess as valuable for future space security technology," adding, "We will provide specialized solutions for future strategic areas such as space surveillance and space traffic, and secure a strong competitive edge in the global space infrastructure market." Meanwhile, Nara Space successfully launched and communicated with its self-developed microsatellite, 'Observer 1A,' in November 2023, making it the first private Korean company to do so. The company is preparing for the additional launches of subsequent constellation satellites: the multispectral optical satellite Observer 1B in the second half of 2025 and the hyperspectral optical satellite Narsha in the second half of 2026, ultimately aiming to build a satellite constellation and lead the space industry.