(Kim Ho-young)
South Korean companies are accelerating efforts to develop space-related technologies as a new growth engine, amid a wave of plans to build space-based artificial intelligence data centers. Investment is particularly intensifying in semiconductors and solar power.
According to Samsung Electronics on Thursday, its foundry division is developing space-grade semiconductors and contract manufacturing capabilities as a future growth business. In November last year, the company sent DRAM and NAND memory into space for validation as part of a government-backed project led by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
The move is also expected to benefit fabless firms seeking to produce space semiconductors through Samsung’s foundry. Chips for space AI data centers must meet stringent requirements, combining high performance with strong resistance to cosmic radiation, giving technologically advanced players like Samsung an edge.
Samsung is also participating in a national project led by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute to secure “space heritage,” a key requirement proving that semiconductors can operate reliably in space. The initiative involves four government-funded research institutes and supports domestic fabless firms in communications, power and imaging.
Beyond Samsung, SK hynix, Netsol and Powermaster Semiconductor are also involved in verification efforts. The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute has successfully validated next-generation AI semiconductor technology capable of stable operation under space radiation, using indium-gallium-zinc oxide materials.
Kwon Yong-hwan, head of the space semiconductor strategy research group at ETRI, said South Korea, despite its strength in semiconductors, holds zero market share in the space semiconductor sector, adding that the goal is to localize seven types of space semiconductors by 2030.
Global companies are also entering the market. On March 22, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, unveiled plans in Austin, Texas, to establish “Terafab,” predicting that 80 percent of its semiconductor output will be used for space applications. The space semiconductor market is currently dominated by a handful of U.S. firms, including Teledyne Technologies, Texas Instruments and Analog Devices.
With the rise of SpaceX lowering launch costs and increasing rocket activity, the adoption of commercial off-the-shelf components is gaining traction. Companies aim to replace expensive space-grade parts with smaller, lower-cost commercial semiconductors, creating more opportunities for firms like Samsung.
Kwon noted that while a DRAM chip for consumer markets costs around 20,000 won ($13.51), a similar chip for satellites can reach 10 million won, reflecting the premium nature of the market. However, limited domestic satellite launches—about one per year over the past three decades—have constrained industry participation. With the advent of the “New Space” era, local satellite launches are expected to increase significantly.
According to space consulting firm Novaspace, the manufacturing segment of the global space industry, including satellites and rockets, was valued at $41 billion as of 2024. While space semiconductors currently represent only a portion of this segment, the market is expected to expand rapidly as companies such as Amazon enter satellite internet and launch services, and as demand for AI data centers grows.
Solar power technologies are also drawing attention as a key energy source for space data centers. High-efficiency solar solutions are essential to meet massive power demands. Perovskite tandem cells, which combine perovskite and silicon layers to absorb different wavelengths of light, are seen as a promising solution.
Among Korean firms, Hanwha Qcells is considered a leader. The company is operating a pilot line to commercialize perovskite tandem cells, bridging laboratory research and mass production while improving yield and quality. It is also enhancing its solar capabilities through advanced TOPCon cell technology.
Kim Ki-hong, senior vice president and head of Tandem Commercialization at Hanwha Qcells, said the company is verifying process stability and scalability through its pilot line, while aiming to improve yield and cost competitiveness over the mid to long term. He added that commercialization of space-based solar power will require securing durability against extreme environments, including radiation, as well as lightweight design for satellite deployment.
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