Cosmo Bee

Cosmo Bee, a satellite electric-propulsion specialist, has launched a KRW 2 billion pre-Series A funding round. It plans to use the funding to begin full-scale development of Hall thrusters for small satellites while continuing to develop a model for microsatellites. Satellites require Hall thrusters to adjust their speed and change orbit.

 

Founded in 2023, Cosmo Bee attracted investment soon after its establishment, demonstrating its growth potential. Seed investor Bluepoint Partners noted that Cosmo Bee was Korea’s only company capable of developing electric-propulsion systems for the rapidly growing microsatellite market.

 

“Despite the rapid growth of microsatellites, no suitable thruster has yet been developed for them,” said Nam-ki Min, an investment manager at Bluepoint Partners. “Cosmo Bee’s Hall thruster has already demonstrated its technology and ability to operate in space through a space mission. We invested because we believe the company can accelerate Korea’s aerospace industry.”

 

◇ KRW 15 Billion Post-Money Valuation Seen as Reasonable; Fundraising Begins One Year After Founding

 

After raising KRW 150 million in seed funding from Bluepoint Partners in 2023, Cosmo Bee recently launched a KRW 1.5 billion to KRW 2 billion pre-Series A round. Its post-money valuation is estimated at KRW 10 billion to KRW 15 billion, and several venture capital firms have reportedly shown interest.

 

The valuation is considered reasonable compared with Perigee Aerospace’s KRW 1.5 billion seed round before its Series A and Earth-observation satellite company Lumir’s KRW 3.5 billion Series A round.

 

Cosmo Bee plans to use the funding to begin full-scale development of Hall thrusters for small satellites. Greater integration of electro-optical components has made it possible to build smaller satellites with the same performance, rapidly expanding the market for low-Earth-orbit constellations using microsatellites weighing less than 100 kg. Propulsion systems are essential for controlling satellite spacing and extending operational life.

 

Korea’s satellite market was expected to begin growing substantially from 2027, with the strongest demand projected for satellites weighing less than 500 kg. Under its Fourth Basic Plan for Promotion of Space Development, the government also announced plans for a crewed Mars mission by 2050. KARI’s GEO-KOMPSAT-3, Hanwha Systems’ 150 kg synthetic aperture radar satellite, KAIST Satellite Technology Research Center’s Wooribyul satellite retrieval spacecraft and Nara Space Technology’s satellite constellation were among the projects scheduled for launch in 2027.

 

“Once satellites are launched and validated in 2027, about 40 satellites will be launched annually from 2028,” said Cosmo Bee CEO Dongha Park. “Demand will be highest for small satellites weighing at least 150 kg, so we intend to develop electric-propulsion systems for them in advance.”

 

◇ Hall Thruster Engineering Model for Microsatellites Up to 150 kg Nears Completion

 

Cosmo Bee has nearly completed an engineering model of its Hall thruster for microsatellites weighing up to 150 kg. The Hall thruster itself has been developed, while subsystems such as the propellant supply system and power processing unit remain under development.

 

Cosmo Bee’s Hall thruster was scheduled to be installed on the K-HERO CubeSat carried on Nuri’s fourth launch in the second half of 2025. The company aims to commercialize its microsatellite Hall thruster in 2026. Each satellite requires one Hall thruster, with a microsatellite unit generally priced at around KRW 300 million. Revenue is expected to increase if the company secures orders for small-satellite thrusters after launching its microsatellite model in 2026.

 

Cosmo Bee plans to develop Hall thrusters for microsatellites, small satellites and eventually large satellites. For microsatellites, it aims to secure a CubeSat constellation propulsion-system contract in 2026, participate in a microsatellite constellation project in 2027 and enter overseas markets. Development of the small-satellite Hall thruster was scheduled to begin in 2024, followed by an engineering model in 2025. The company planned to conduct on-orbit servicing validation using a low-Earth-orbit 6G communications satellite in 2026, complete the final product in 2027 and obtain space-environment testing and quality certification in 2028. Launch and operation aboard small satellites are planned from 2030.

 

In the longer term, Cosmo Bee also plans to develop thrusters for medium and large satellites weighing more than 500 kg. It intends to begin developing a model in 2027 and complete a large-satellite Hall thruster by 2030.

 

“Large-satellite projects are worth around KRW 700 billion per satellite and require highly advanced technology,” Park said. “We therefore plan to gain experience with microsatellites and small satellites before developing a large-satellite model.”

 

Hall Thrusters for CubeSats and Microsatellites

 

 

Original article : Cosmo Bee Launches KRW 2 Billion Pre-Series A Round, Eyes Hall Thruster Revenue