Hancom Inspace Chooses Spire Global to Build Imaging Constellation

Rendering of Sejong-1

Spire Global set an agreement with Korean company Hancom InSpace to enhance its Sejong-1 satellite and to build and operate two additional satellites, Sejong-2 and Sejong-3. The company said that these satellites will be Korea’s first three-satellite remote sensing image data service constellation.

Hancom InSpace is a former spin-off of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, now part of Hancom Group. It collects image analysis data, including vehicle detection, changes in roads and buildings, and pine tree death detection. Its missions focus on collecting imagery for the agriculture sector, including landscaping applications. Hancom plans to launch and operate a constellation of up to 50 satellites.

Sejong-1, a Spire satellite carrying a payload for Hancom, launched in May 2022 on the SpaceX Transporter-5 mission. Spire said it was the first commercial satellite deployed for a private South Korean company.

Dr. Myungjin Choi, CEO of Hancom InSpace, said that the collaboration with Spire Global shows the company’s commitment to advancing its satellite constellation. Sejong-2 and Sejong-3, alongside Sejong-1, will mark a “significant step forward,” he said. 

“Sejong-2 will serve as an extension of Sejong-1, focusing on maritime, agricultural monitoring, and change detection, especially in urban areas, while Sejong-3, equipped with a hyperspectral imager, will leverage its spectral range advantages for applications such as calculating wildfire damage area, analyzing air pollution levels, and assessing river water quality,” Choi said.