The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI; ), established in 1989, is the aeronautics and space agency of South Korea. Its main laboratories are located in Daejeon, in the Daedeok Science Town. KARI's vision is to continue building upon indigenous launch capabilities, strengthen national safety and public service, industrialize satellite information and applications technology, explore the Moon, and develop environmentally-friendly and highly-efficient cutting-edge aircraft and core aerospace technology. Current projects include the KSLV-2 launcher. Past projects include the 1999 Arirang-1 satellite. The agency was founded in 1989. Prior to South Korea's entry into the Institute for Advanced Engineering (IAE) in 1992, it focused primarily on aerospace technology. As of May 2024, KARI is an affiliated research institute of the Korea AeroSpace Administration.
Background KARI began on October 10, 1989, as a national aerospace research institute with the purpose of contributing to sound development of the national economy and enhancement of people's lives through a new exploration, technological advancement, development, and dissemination in the field of aerospace science and technology.Greeting address. (2016). Korea Aerospace Research Institute. retrieved from https://www.kari.re.kr/eng/sub01_01.do It started its research in a temporary building, and had about 30 employees. In 1992, it was designated as a performance quality inspection specialized agency under the Aerospace Industry Development Promotion Act of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, and in November 1996, it became an independent foundation called the Korea Aerospace Research Institute.
In 2001, it was renamed to the current Korea Aerospace Research Institute. In 2008, it was incorporated under the Basic Technology Research Council of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. In 2014, its affiliation was changed to the National Research Council of Science and Technology. In December 2016, it was selected as a national space development specialized agency.
Timeline 1989.10 Establishment of KARI affiliated to Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials (KIMM) 1990.12 Cornerstone – Laying ceremony for the building of the institute 1992.07 Authorized as the Inspection Agency, designated by the AIDP Law 1992.10 Completion of construction of the research building complex 1993.04 Experimental Aircraft Kachi Development 1993.06.09 Launch of Single-stage Sounding Rocket (KSR-I) 1993.09 EXPO Unmanned Airship Development 1995. Korea launched its first communications satellite named Koreasat * 1996.11 Independent organization as KARI, an Incorporated Foundation 1997.03 Twin-engine composite Aircraft Development 1997.04 Authorized as the Type Certification Agency, designated by the Aviation Law 1998.06 Launch of Two-stage Sounding Rocket (KSR-II) 1999.01 Change of Type Certification Agency 1999.12 Launch of Korea Multiple Purpose Satellite (KOMPSAT I) also known as Arirang I 2001.01 Change of name to Korea Aerospace Research Institute 2001.09 Canard Aircraft Development 2002.11 Launch of Liquid-propellant Rocket (KSR-III) 2003.05 Cornerstone – laying ceremony for the Aircraft Flight Test Center 2003.08 Cornerstone – laying ceremony for the NARO Space Center 2003.09 Launch of STSAT (Science and Technology Satellite)-1 2003.10 Multi-Purpose Stratosphere unmanned-airship Development 2004.10 Completion of Jeju Island Tracking Station 2005.01 Installation of South pole ground station 2006.07 Launch of Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite (KOMPSAT 2) also known as Arirang II 2008.03 Transfer to Korea Research Council of Fundamental Science & Technology (KRCF) 2008.04 The first Korean astronaut 2008.12 Medium Aero stats Development 2009.06 Completion of NARO Space center 2009.08 The 1st launch of Korea's 1st space launch vehicle KSLV-1 2010.06 Launch of COMS 2010.06 The 2nd launch of Korea's 1st space launch vehicle KSLV-1 2011.11 Smart UAV Development 2012.05 Launch of Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite(KOMPSAT)-3 2012.06 Korean Utility Helicopter Surion Development 2013.01 The 3rd launch of Korea's 1st space launch vehicle KSLV-1 2013.08 Launch of Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite (KOMPSAT)-5 2013.11 STSAT(Science and Technology Satellite)-3 Development 2013.12 4KC-100 Development 2014.05 OPV Development 2014 Research on lunar exploration cooperation began 2015.03 Launch of Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite (KOMPSAT)-3A 2015.08 EAV-3 development 2015.12 The completion of KSLV-II's engine combustion test facility 2016.12 Designated as a National Space Development Agency 2018.11 Launch of Test Launch Vehicle(TLV) 2018.12 Launch of GK-2A(GEO-KOMPSAT-2A) Mission and Major Functions Perform basic and applied studies in aerospace technology
Development of leading-edge technology aircraft, aircraft evaluation and testing, and support of national development projects
Research and development of comprehensive system and core technology of aircraft, satellite, and space launch vehicle
Support national aerospace development policy establishment, distribution, and diffusion of aerospace technology information
Development and KSLV(Korea Launching of Space Launch Vehicles) and Operation of Space Center
Perform government-delegated tasks and support policy development
Development of technology for assuring aerospace safety and quality, and maintenance of legal quality certification and internationally recognized certification systems Establishment and support of the National Aerospace Development Policy and dissemination of knowledge on aerospace technology
Support industries and transfer technology
Joint utilization of testing facilities and equipment with industries and academia, and training of scientists and engineers Transfer of technology from research and development and provisions for commercialization support
Organization The headquarters is located in Daedeok Innopolis in Daejeon, and has various aerospace-related test facilities, including subsonic wind tunnel test facilities, full-body structural test facilities, propulsion test facilities, aircraft control test facilities, and rotary wing test facilities.
Naro Space Center The Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, has major rocket propulsion system test facilities, a launch pad, a tracking station, and launch operation facilities, and a launch pad for private space companies is also planned to be built within the center.
Goheung Aviation Center The center is equipped with a 0.7 km long runway, airships, small and unmanned aircraft test facilities, landing gear drop test facilities, and propeller test facilities. From 2003 to 2019, the Goheung Aviation Center conducted performance tests on 168 manned and unmanned aircraft over a period of 16 years, and 76,077 researchers visited the center.
Tracking station The Jeju Tracking Station is located in Seogwipo, Jeju Province, 200km away from the Naro Space Center, and is responsible for continuous tracking and information reception of space launch vehicles.
The Palau Tracking Station is equipped with a 7.3m diameter remote data receiving antenna and satellite communication network on a 28,000 m2 site. It can receive remote data and images such as real-time flight position, speed, attitude, stage separation, satellite separation signal, pressure, temperature, voltage, and current of launch vehicles or payloads, and can also receive data from launch vehicles that are more than 3,000 km away from the Naro Space Center.
Deep Space Ground Station
The station communicates with a space probe, and is located in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province. It communicates with the lunar orbiter that will orbit the Moon and conduct exploration activities. The antenna reflector sends out radio waves and collects the radio waves sent by the lunar orbiter.
Organization KARI Innovation Advisory Group External Relations and Cooperation Office International Cooperation Office Safety, Health and Security Office Overseas Contracts Office Auditing Division Public Relations Office Quality Management Office IT and Information Security Office Technology Commercialization Office Aeronautics Research Directorate Satellite Research Directorate NARO Space Center Management Support Directorate Strategy and Planning Directorate National Satellite Operation & Application Center KPS R&D Directorate Unmanned Vehicle Advanced Research Center SBAS Program Office Space Pioneer Program Office Strastopheric Drone Technology Development Center Future Innovation Research Center KARI Academy
Developments
KARI is also developing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, high-altitude airships, a next-generation multi-purpose helicopter project, next- generation medium satellite, and a lunar exploration project. In addition, several satellites, including the KOMPSAT (also known as Arirang) Series, the COMS (Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite), and the STSAT (Science and Technology Satellite), are developed, operated, or under development by KARI. On January 30, 2013, they launched a satellite into space from their own soil for the first time.
KARI began in 1989 to develop its own rockets (KSR, Korean Sounding Rocket). It produced the KSR-I and KSR-II, one and two-stage rockets in the early 1990s.
In December 1997 it began development of a LOX/kerosene rocket engine. KARI wished to develop satellite launch capability. A test launch of the KSR-III took place in 2002.
The first-stage unguided rocket KSR-I was produced by KARI in cooperation with research institutes such as industry, academia, and research institutes for the development of rockets. R&D took place for three years from 1990, and the total development cost was 2.85 billion won. Their goal was to develop a solid unguided science tube survey rocket that could observe the ozone layer over the Korean Peninsula.
Earth observation program KSLV-1 launched on August 25, 2009. It was originally a cluster of indigenous liquid KSR-III rockets with a solid propellant to form a multistage launcher. However, KARI experienced more difficulties than expected in SLV development, because it required much stronger propellant power than KSR-III possessed to launch a satellite into orbit.An, H. (2013). Seeking independence in space: South korea's space program (1958–2010). Quest: History Of Spaceflight, 20(2), 34–51. After several failed attempts, KARI turned to Russia's Khrunichev Design Bureau for assistance in developing a liquid-propellant rocket engine for the KSLV-1 as well as for cooperation in the construction of the launch facility at the Naro Space Center. The first stage of the launcher was derived from the Russian URM-1 (Universal Rocket Module) developed by Khrunichev. The second stage of the launcher was a solid Kick Motor developed by Korea, which included the Inertial Navigation System; the power, control, and flight safety systems; plus the nose fairing. South Korea launched its next rocket, the KSLV-2 in 2021. The first stage of KSLV-II has 4 clustered engines, each of which has a 75 metric ton thrust. All three stages use indigenously developed rocket engines.
Active Missions: KSLV-1, KSLV-2, Koreasat, ANASIS-II
Satellite program
SaTReC The KAIST's SaTReC, responsible for the nation's small scientific satellites.