Hanwha Aerospace starts assembling prototype for reusable rockets

Korea's leading defense and space firm Hanwha Aerospace has commenced the assembly of a prototype for reusable rocket technology, a significant milestone in their pursuit of vertical landing launch vehicles akin to SpaceX's Falcon 9. This development, announced on Wednesday, is part of a project overseen by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), with additional contributions from Vitzro Nextech and Hanyang ENG.

The overarching goal of this initiative is to finalize technology demonstrations by 2028, including a vertical takeoff and landing flight test to validate the essential technologies required for reusable launch vehicles.

The prototype measures 12.2 meters in height and 1.5 meters in diameter, equipped with a single staged-combustion cycle turbopump engine. Scheduled for 2028, the planned flight test will see the vehicle ascend vertically to an altitude of 500 meters within approximately 90 seconds before making a controlled vertical landing. This assessment will concentrate on refining engine thrust control, attitude control, and guidance mechanisms, all deemed crucial for the successful operation of reusable launch vehicles.