SEJONG — WalkerInSpace, a pioneering South Korean space company, has officially broken ground on its new Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) Space Center in Sejong City. The project marks a significant milestone as the first construction initiative following a land sale contract in the city's public facility complex.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on the 10th at the C6-4 block in Janggun-myeon. The event drew around 50 attendees, including key local government and corporate figures such as Sejong Economic Vice Mayor Park Sung-soo, Sejong City Council Vice Chairman Yoo In-ho, City and Environment Committee Chairperson Lee Soon-yeol, Transportation Corporation Division Head Yoon Bong-jin, and WalkerInSpace CEO Kim Hae-dong.

Established in 2024, WalkerInSpace specializes in On-Orbit Servicing and In-Space Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM). The company is widely recognized for developing VEROS, a versatile robotic satellite designed to perform critical in-space operations such as refueling, repairs, component replacement, orbit maintenance, and space debris removal.

Scheduled for completion in August 2027, the new AIT Space Center will span a floor area of approximately 4,300 square meters (about 1,300 pyeong) across four floors. The facility will house aerospace-grade cleanrooms, microgravity simulation systems, and space environment test facilities, serving as a cutting-edge hub for robotic and microsatellite assembly and research.

Backed by accolades from government programs like the Korea Aero Space Administration (KASA)'s Space Challenge, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ Deep-Tech Challenge Project (DCP), and Scale-up TIPS, the facility is expected to catalyze a new high-tech industry cluster in Sejong.

Industry experts anticipate a strong synergy between WalkerInSpace and Inospace, a KOSDAQ-listed launch vehicle company located in Eojin-dong, Sejong. While Inospace specializes in rocketry to place satellites into orbit, WalkerInSpace focuses on extending satellite lifespans through robotic servicing.

As South Korea's sole provider in this specialized sector, WalkerInSpace aims to compete globally with top-tier international aerospace firms. The development is also expected to foster regional aerospace collaboration alongside the neighboring science hub of Daejeon, home to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).

The Sejong Urban and Transportation Corporation facilitated the swift administrative approval process, ensuring the land use permit was granted promptly following final payments. The corporation pledged continued proactive support to help the company adhere to its development schedule.

“In an era of fierce global competition in the space industry, the AIT Space Center will serve as a springboard for WalkerInSpace to leap forward,” CEO Kim Hae-dong stated. “We are committed to growing into one of the top three global space-servicing companies.”

Economic Vice Mayor Park Sung-soo remarked, “WalkerInSpace’s technologies—such as satellite refueling and repair—will expand the boundaries of space utilization. We hope this initiative fosters broader cooperation across space, robotics, and artificial intelligence, while creating a solid foundation for young talent to thrive.”

City Council Vice Chairman Yoo In-ho added, “We fully support WalkerInSpace in successfully establishing its roots in Sejong and building strong global competitiveness. The city council will continue to back active research and corporate growth at every level.”

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]