Contec, a space ground station service company, announced on the 16th that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for cooperation in the space sector, including satellite exports and the construction of ground stations at home and abroad.
Under this agreement, the two companies plan to establish a cooperation framework for ground station technical support and the design and development of ground station systems necessary for the satellite export process. In particular, if satellite exports are pursued in conjunction with KAI's aircraft export business, the potential for cooperation in the field of ground station infrastructure construction is expected to expand. There is also a possibility that the scope of cooperation could expand to the field of satellite operation in the future.
Contec has accumulated relevant technical capabilities by performing ground station operations and satellite data reception and processing tasks in national satellite projects, including the Arirang 7 project, a multi-purpose practical satellite project. In addition, since establishing its first ground station at the Jeju Lava Sea Complex in 2019, it has gained experience in the field of satellite data processing by operating a private commercial ground station network.
Contec is currently constructing a private space ground station complex in Hallim-eup, Jeju. The complex is scheduled to house a total of 12 antennas for low-orbit satellites, including two of its own antennas and others installed at the request of global clients. The facility is set to officially open this coming April.
Lee Seong-hee, CEO of Contec, said, “Through this collaboration, we will be able to utilize Contec’s domestic and international ground station network for national satellite operations,” adding, “In line with the New Space era, we expect this cooperation with KAI to create synergy in terms of technology and market competitiveness.”
Recently, the space industry has seen an expanding trend of establishing integrated services that encompass data reception and operation following satellite launch, through cooperation between satellite manufacturers and ground station service providers.
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