Unastella: Korea's First Private Rocket Launch Success

A new horizon has opened for South Korea's space development. Private space launch vehicle startup Unastella succeeded in the test launch of its small launch vehicle, 'UNA EXPRESS-I,' at 11:50 PM on the 28th, from its own launch site in Bongnae-myeon, Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, marking a significant milestone in domestic space history. This is recorded as the first successful launch of a private rocket developed with purely domestic technology within South Korean territory, a remarkable achievement for Unastella, which was founded in February 2022, accomplished in just three years. The 'UNA EXPRESS-I' launch vehicle, which was launched this time, is a small launch vehicle measuring 9.45m in length and weighing 2 tons in total, equipped with a 5-ton thrust engine, and uses kerosene and liquid oxygen as fuel. The launch vehicle perfectly executed its flight mission to an altitude of 10km, proving its performance, before accurately falling into the designated maritime safety zone in Goheung-gun as planned. Notably, a microgravity test device, under development by leading research institutions including the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and research teams from Chungnam National University, was carried as a payload, confirming its potential for scientific research. This historic launch is garnering further attention as it is the first real-world application of the 'Space Pioneer Project,' a key initiative of the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA). Unastella participated as a demand-side company in this project, which aims to localize highly foreign-dependent space technologies. By successfully introducing and utilizing Danam Systems' 'Avionics Integrated Technology' and Hanyang ENG's 'Segmented Umbilical Technology' in the launch vehicle, Unastella demonstrated the potential for self-reliance in the domestic space industry ecosystem. Yoon Young-bin, head of KASA, highly praised Unastella's success as “the result of continuous challenge and innovation that passed a crucial gateway for commercial launches,” and promised active support to enable future launch vehicle companies to launch freely in a better environment. Park Jae-hong, CEO of Unastella, also expressed gratitude for the generous support and stated his ambition that “Unastella will continuously challenge itself and contribute to South Korea's advancement as a space power.” The success of this test launch will serve as an important stepping stone for Unastella to officially embark on the development of next-generation space launch vehicles based on electric motor pump-fed cycle engines. With this success as momentum, Unastella is expected to establish itself as a key player leading South Korea's space era.