Ibadan, 28 March 2024. – Spire Global, Inc. has announced an agreement with HANCOM InSpace (“Hancom”), initially a spin-off by Korea Aerospace Research Institute and now a part of HANCOM Group, for Sejong-2 and Sejong-3, two additional satellites with Spire Space Services. Under this agreement, Spire will build and operate the satellites, expanding the capabilities of HANCOM-1 (Sejong-1). Together, these satellites will form a constellation for Korea’s first three-satellite remote sensing image data service.
Hancom specializes in commercial and Government applications of image analysis, including the detection of vehicles, aircraft and ships, changes in roads and buildings, and pine tree death detection. The missions focus on collecting optical imagery for applications in the agriculture sector, including landscaping applications and the expansion of its existing image analysis portfolio offerings. Hancom plans to launch and operate a constellation of up to 50 satellites.
Speaking on the announcement, Frank Frulio, general manager of Space Services at Spire, said, “Collaborating with Hancom Group on the expansion of their satellite constellation is a testament to the innovative spirit driving advancements in the South Korean space industry. As a pioneer in deploying satellites, Hancom continues to demonstrate its leadership in the space industry, and we are happy to contribute to the growth of its constellation.”
Likewise, Dr. Myungjin Choi, the CEO of HANCOM InSpace, added, “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 will leverage its spectral range advantages for applications such as calculating wildfire damage area, analyzing air pollution levels, and assessing river water quality. With the integration of images from our own multispectral and hyperspectral imagers, drones, and high-performance ground cameras, we are poised to expand our image utilization portfolio even further.”
