A venture company in South Korea develops space repair and refueling services for satellites

Space company WorkerInSpace recently announced that it will open a research lab in Sejong City and enter the orbital services market.
Kim Hye-dong, a professor at Gyeongsang University, said that the company plans to develop a service to extend the lifespan of medium and large satellites by refueling and repairing parts, as well as technology to build large structures in space, such as train stations and hotels.
Kim Hye-dong, CEO of the company, has been researching the disposal of space debris since 2013, the first in Korea. If artificial satellites can be reused in the increasingly complex space environment, it will be possible to reduce development costs.
He started researching on-orbit services, thinking that it would be possible to reduce costs and operating costs while protecting the space environment. After becoming a professor at Gyeongsang University and founding the company, he received an investment of 2 billion won (about 200 million yen) in August 2024.
The company plans to hold a wrap-up party for VEROS-1, a robotic satellite that will repair and refuel satellites, the first of its kind in Korea and the fourth or fifth in the world, in 2028.
After technical verification, the company will provide a service to extend the lifespan of satellites currently being contacted by its business partners. The service is expected to be useful not only for industrial use but also for national defense.
"We will provide all unmanned operations services needed in space and maximize the value of space-related assets such as satellites," Kim said.