The Korea Aerospace Administration heard the voices of corporations participating in the Korean launch vehicle (Nuri) upgrade project.
On the afternoon of the 29th, the Korea Aerospace Administration announced that it held a meeting with corporations participating in the Nuri upgrade project at its temporary office in Sacheon, Gyeongnam. The meeting included Hanwha Aerospace, which is responsible for overall system integration in the Nuri project, as well as 11 other corporations responsible for engines, structures, guidance, and control.
Participating corporations expressed concern that if there is a gap in the launch vehicle business after the sixth launch of Nuri, it will become difficult to maintain specialized personnel and facilities and equipment, and the technology and know-how accumulated thus far may be neglected. There was also an opinion that without consistent launch demand, the phrase 'privately led space industry' itself would lose its meaning.
The corporations suggested concrete support measures, such as providing public launch demand information to secure follow-up launch quantities and entering into long-term launch contracts, to solve these problems. Additionally, there was an opinion that the Nuri system integration company and participating corporations should work together to establish practical cost reduction measures and joint response strategies.
Han Chang-heon, head of the Korea Aerospace Administration's aerospace industry department, said, 'I am aware that more than 100 corporations participating in the Nuri project are facing difficulties due to reduced production volume,' and 'I will carefully review the opinions expressed in this meeting to prepare policy support measures and will work closely with the industry to ensure that the Nuri project can be pursued stably and continuously.'