SOUTH KOREAN ROCKET STARTUP UNASTELLA RAISES $24M

Unastella joins a growing wave of commercial space companies developing domestic launch capabilities. The startup is focused on designing and manufacturing its own launch vehicles and rocket engines, positioning itself as a key player in South Korea's emerging space industry. The $24 million funding round supports Unastella's engineering and development efforts as it works toward operational flight tests. South Korea has been expanding its space sector investments, with government backing and private ventures pursuing independent launch capabilities. Unastella's focus on vertical integration—building both vehicles and engines in-house—aligns with approaches taken by established players in the global launch market. The funding enables the company to accelerate timelines for testing and deployment of its systems.