Hanwha Aerospace starts assembling prototype for reusable rockets

Korea's top defense and space company, Hanwha Aerospace, has begun constructing a prototype for a reusable rocket technology demonstrator, a significant milestone in their ambition to build vertically landing launch vehicles akin to SpaceX's Falcon 9. The assembly of this demonstrator, as per Hanwha Aerospace's announcement on Wednesday, is a part of a project spearheaded by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), with additional contributions from Vitzro Nextech and Hanyang ENG.

The project's objective is to achieve technology demonstrations by 2028, which will include a vertical takeoff and landing flight test to validate the essential technologies required for reusable launch vehicles. The demonstrator stands at 12.2 meters in height and 1.5 meters in diameter and is equipped with a single staged-combustion cycle turbopump engine.

During the anticipated 2028 flight test, the vehicle is projected to ascend vertically to a height of 500 meters within approximately 90 seconds, after which it is expected to perform a controlled vertical landing. Hanwha Aerospace highlighted that the test will concentrate on refining technologies such as engine thrust control, attitude control, and guidance, which are deemed crucial for the success of reusable launch vehicles.