Hanwha Aerospace has signed a KRW 103 billion agreement with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) to develop, assemble and test key elements of the propulsion system for South Korea’s lunar lander, which is scheduled for launch in 2032.
Under the contract, Hanwha Aerospace will be responsible for core propulsion components, including the lander’s main landing engine and its attitude control thrusters. These systems are critical to enabling precise maneuvering, controlled descent and safe landing on the lunar surface.
The company will draw on more than 30 years of experience in propulsion technologies developed through its participation in national space programs. This heritage includes high-precision thrust control and reliable propellant management, as well as the use of MMH/NTO-based bipropellant technologies, which are widely employed in space propulsion systems for their performance and reliability.
According to Hanwha Aerospace, the program is intended not only to support the successful execution of Korea’s lunar lander mission, but also to strengthen the country’s sovereign space capabilities. The company highlighted the role of the project in reinforcing the domestic space industrial ecosystem and laying the technological groundwork for future deep-space exploration missions.
South Korea’s lunar lander initiative represents a key step in the country’s long-term space exploration roadmap, following earlier lunar exploration efforts and expanding ambitions beyond Earth orbit. Through its partnership with KARI, Hanwha Aerospace is positioning itself as a central industrial player in the development of Korea’s next generation of space exploration systems.
