UNASTELLA Secures $14.6M to Advance Manned Space Launch Vehicles and Technology


UNASTELLA, a Korean startup specializing in private manned space launch vehicles, has secured a $14.6 million (KRW 19.5 billion) Series A investment, bringing its total funding to $21 million (KRW 28 billion). The latest round saw participation from existing investors, including Hana Ventures, Strong Ventures, BASS Investment, InterValue Partners, and A-Stone Ventures, along with new investors HB Investment, SBI Investment, Woori Venture Partners, Samho Green Investment, and KDB Capital.

UNASTELLA is preparing to launch its UNA EXPRESS-I vehicle later this year and plans to use the new funds to advance its core electric motor pump engine technology and develop future launch vehicles. The company aims to fast-track the commercialization of microgravity experiment platforms and space launch vehicles for satellite missions.

Founded in February 2022, UNASTELLA is focused on developing its own engines based on an electric motor pump cycle system, with the goal of creating a launch vehicle capable of manned spaceflight up to 100 km in altitude and offering suborbital space travel services.

In January of last year, just one year after its founding, the company successfully conducted a ground test of its self-developed combustor, showcasing its technological expertise and rapid development. Additionally, UNASTELLA signed a technology transfer agreement with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) for electric pumps used in small rocket engines, gaining a non-exclusive license for two patents related to electric motor pump engines.

UNASTELLA further expanded its technology base by signing another agreement with KARI for the transfer of “space launch vehicle pressurized propellant supply system technology,” obtaining a non-exclusive license for propellant supply technologies and gaining access to KARI’s core design expertise and know-how.

To accelerate the development of its space launch vehicles and systems, UNASTELLA appointed Kwang-rae Cho, the former director of KARI and leader of Korea’s first space launch vehicle, ‘Naro,’ as an advisory committee member in July this year.

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