Photo: Team PNU Aerospace at the selection and kickoff ceremony for the 2026 CubeSat Competition.

As part of efforts to advance aerospace technology and cultivate the next generation of aerospace professionals, the CubeSat Competition was hosted by the Korea AeroSpace Administration and organized by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute.

The competition gives undergraduate and graduate students hands-on experience throughout the full satellite development process, from planning and design to fabrication, testing, and preparation for actual operation in space. Through this experience, students can deepen their understanding of aerospace technology while developing the practical expertise needed to become future professionals in the field.

Team PNU Aerospace, based in PNU’s Department of Aerospace Engineering and led by Professor HoLak Kim, was selected in the basic satellite category. With the selection, the team will receive up to KRW 700 million in satellite development funding and plans to develop Plato Sat, a CubeSat equipped with an electric thruster, by 2028. The team will carry out the major stages of development, including system design, fabrication, and testing, with the goal of eventually deploying the satellite into low Earth orbit. Through the mission, Team PNU Aerospace aims to demonstrate the performance of its electric thruster and validate its applicability in the actual space environment.

PNU expects the project to provide students with valuable hands-on experience and help cultivate highly skilled professionals for the space sector. The project is also expected to create further opportunities for interdisciplinary research and technological advancement in aerospace engineering, while supporting the growth of related fields, including electric propulsion and CubeSat technologies.

Building on PNU’s selection for the government’s Growth Engine & AI Package Support Program, the University is continuing to strengthen its education and research capabilities in aerospace engineering while expanding collaboration with regional industries. PNU is also preparing to establish the College of Innovative Manufacturing and Maritime Industry in March 2028, further strengthening the foundation for specialized talent development and expanded research in aerospace and other strategic industries.

Professor Kim emphasized that the project will provide an opportunity to apply PNU’s ongoing electric propulsion research to an actual satellite mission and validate the technology in the space environment. By further securing integrated satellite operation and control technologies, the project is expected to contribute to strengthening Korea’s independent aerospace capabilities, advancing the domestic aerospace industry, and cultivating the next generation of specialized professionals.