Hanwha Systems Begins Development of AI-Based Space Situational Awareness System

Integrated System for Space Surveillance Satellites and AI-Based Ground Infrastructure
Ultra-Small Low Earth Orbit Satellite Equipped with Optical Camera

Hanwha Systems is set to begin developing a national space situational awareness system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect and track space objects, as well as analyze collision and re-entry risks.

On September 18, Hanwha Systems announced that it had signed a contract with the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) on September 9 for the "Development of Space-Based Space Surveillance Satellites and Ground-Linked Space Situational Awareness System" project. Hanwha Systems will participate as the private sector developer of the national space situational awareness system (K-SSA), engaging in its design and development.

Image of space-based space surveillance satellites and ground-linked space situational awareness system operation. Hanwha Systems

Recently, the rapid increase of low Earth orbit satellites has heightened the risk of collisions with both artificial and natural space objects in orbit. In response, the ability to protect national space assets and proactively address the risks of space object collisions and re-entries has become critical.

This project is part of the K-SSA development initiative led by the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA). KASI, as the lead research institution, is responsible for defining the mission, operational concepts, and system requirements for the national space situational awareness structure, as well as overseeing the overall technical coordination, including detailed technological links and system integration.

Under the direction of KASI, Hanwha Systems will serve as the private sector developer, tasked with the development of space-based surveillance satellites, the establishment of a ground-linked space situational awareness system, the integration and connection of detailed subsystems, and system-level testing and validation.

The "space-based space surveillance satellite," which Hanwha Systems has commenced developing, is an ultra-small satellite to operate in low Earth orbit at an altitude of approximately 480 km. It will be equipped with an optical camera for space situational awareness, enabling the real-time detection and tracking of both artificial and natural objects in space, and collecting key observational data required for analyzing space object collision and re-entry risks.

The ground-linked space situational awareness system is a ground infrastructure responsible for the centralized management and analysis of data and space object information obtained from the space surveillance satellites and other observational sources. By implementing AI technology, the system will more accurately predict and analyze the orbital paths, potential collisions, and re-entry risks of space objects, and will share related information to support rapid decision-making and response actions.

Song Sungchan, Head of Hanwha Systems' Space Division, stated, "The space industry is quickly expanding beyond simply developing and operating satellites to include the safe utilization and management of space environments. Through this project, we will secure core technological competitiveness in space situational awareness and space domain awareness, and contribute to strengthening South Korea's independent space security and response capabilities."

Last month, Hanwha Systems signed a contract with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute for the "Development of the Lunar Lander Rover Deployment System" project.

This project involves developing a deployment system for a rover that will be mounted on the lunar lander currently under development by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. The deployment system enables the rover to be stably deployed and perform its mission after the lander touches down on the lunar surface.

Hanwha Systems plans to design the deployment system to ensure the rover can be stably deployed on the lunar surface, regardless of various landing environments such as differences in lunar surface elevation or the tilt of the lander. In addition, space environment testing will be conducted in cooperation with the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, which owns a lunar environment test facility, to simulate lunar conditions.

Hanwha Systems also plans to apply the technologies acquired through this project to its own space AI data solutions and to the development of a low Earth orbit satellite communication system (K-LEO).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.