South Korean rocket startup Unastella raises $24M Series B
Original: Unastella, a South Korean rocket startup that launched from home, raises $24M
Why This Matters
Asian rocket startups are challenging US-China dominance in commercial space launch
Unastella, a four-year-old South Korean rocket startup, closed a $24 million Series B led by Altos Ventures, bringing total funding to $44 million. The company launched its Una Express-I rocket from South Korean soil in May 2025.
Seoul-based Unastella develops launch vehicles and engines for small satellite services, with longer-term goals for crewed suborbital spaceflight. The startup uses proven kerosene and liquid oxygen propulsion with electric motor pumps instead of traditional turbo pumps, prioritizing simplicity and speed to market over maximum payload capacity. Founder and CEO Jae Park previously worked on Korea's Nuri rocket at KARI and European launch vehicles at German Aerospace Center. The 22-person company handles all operations in-house including design, manufacturing, and flight operations. Investors include Korea Development Bank, Strong Ventures, and Hana Ventures. Unastella targets UNA EXPRESS-II launch next year, aiming to reach 100 kilometers altitude to attract partnerships with major South Korean aerospace firms.