INNOSPACE to establish in-house 3D printing division to advance launch services
First Korean company to pass shipment inspection for metal AM equipment based on international standards, paving the way for pilot production and full-scale operation
INNOSPACE, a South Korean satellite launch service company, has established its Advanced Manufacturing Division, based on multiple metal additive manufacturing systems to produce in-house rocket engines and core components for space launch vehicles. With this initiative, INNOSPACE is poised to elevate its competitiveness across launch services and commercial endeavors.
“The new division marks a pivotal milestone in internalizing the production of core components, including launch vehicle engines, securing our unique competitiveness in launch services. By applying 3D printing technology, we expect to achieve part lightweighting that reduces rocket mass and increases payload capacity, allowing customers to transport more satellites at a lower cost. This will positively impact future revenue generation. It also has the potential to expand into high-value-added industries beyond aerospace and defense, including automotive and semiconductors, further enhancing INNOSPACE’s commercialization competitiveness,” said Soojong Kim, founder and CEO of INNOSPACE.
3D printing is a technology capable of manufacturing complex-shaped parts with high precision and speed. In launch vehicle development, which necessitates design changes and repeated testing, 3D printing offers an optimal solution for reducing production lead time and maintaining consistent quality, while ensuring the highest reliability standards throughout the process.
This brings significant cost advantages. Enabling integrated manufacturing in a single process reduces both labor and processing costs. Unlike subtractive manufacturing, it selectively builds material layer by layer only where needed, allowing process simplification and material efficiency. Up to 50% cost reduction is expected compared to traditional manufacturing methods.
Below, INNOSPACE’s 3D printed Oxidizer Pumps for ‘HANBIT-Nano’: First Stage (Left), Second Stage (Right):
The division has officially commenced full-scale operations after successfully verifying the reliability of its quality through shipment inspection based on ISO/ASTM 52941-20, the international standard for aerospace metal additive manufacturing equipment acceptance criteria, a first in South Korea. The division has established a differentiated manufacturing system that enables fast and reliable product acquisition without the complexity of a traditional supply chain. This system integrates the full spectrum of production processes into a fully in-house, end-to-end control solution, encompassing part design, process development, additive manufacturing, simulation, surface treatment, machining, and quality verification.
By the end of the year, INNOSPACE aims to achieve three primary objectives: stabilizing the production of launch vehicle engines and essential components through the use of 3D printing, establishing a data-driven quality management system, and optimizing manufacturing costs while reducing lead times.
The division has already completed process development and the initial production of 13 critical components. These include the first- and second-stage oxidizer pumps for the HANBIT launch vehicle, along with high-precision rotating parts for the pumps, significantly enhancing the reliability of the manufacturing process.
