South Korea has completed a system-level critical design review for its first Korean Positioning System satellite, examining whether the spacecraft’s design is ready for manufacturing and assembly. The Korea AeroSpace Administration announced the review on October 22, 2026, after meetings held October 20–22 at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute.
The first satellite is being developed for a September 2029 launch. The October review follows a September review of its navigation payload and expands the assessment to the complete spacecraft.
The payload generates navigation signals. The spacecraft body supplies the supporting functions that let the payload operate, including electrical power and control of its orientation. KASA’s September announcement identified the payload review as the final design assessment before construction of the flight model, the hardware intended for launch.
The latest review examined the connections between the payload and spacecraft body, along with plans for assembly and performance testing. Those interfaces determine how separately developed equipment works together once integrated.
KASA plans a broader review in November covering the overall system, ground equipment, and user systems. This next assessment examines the connections beyond the satellite itself and feed into preparations for manufacturing, assembly, and testing.
Useful Books Available on Amazon
