UIWANG-SI, Korea — In a significant step toward commercializing advanced space power technologies, Korean space energy company Flexell Space has announced a strategic partnership with Singapore-based CubeSat specialist Satoro. The agreement, finalized by Flexell Space CEO Taehun Ahn and Satoro CEO Mark Lu, centers on a pair of critical in-orbit demonstration and validation missions scheduled to launch in 2027 and 2028 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets.
The collaboration is designed to rigorously test and verify the performance, durability, and operational reliability of Flexell Space’s next-generation space solar cells under actual orbital conditions. As the commercial space industry rapidly expands, the demand for high-efficiency, lightweight, and cost-effective power sources has never been greater. Traditional space-grade solar arrays can be heavy and expensive to manufacture, prompting innovative firms like Flexell Space to look toward alternative materials such as copper indium gallium selenide and perovskites to reshape how satellites gather and utilize energy.
Under the terms of the newly minted agreement, Satoro will leverage its robust "Satellite-as-a-service" business model to manufacture the dedicated demonstration satellites. Meanwhile, Flexell Space will supply the specialized solar cells and custom test modules required for integration into the CubeSat platforms. The two companies will work closely to coordinate technical requirements, align payload interfaces, and establish protocols for evaluating the operational characteristics of the solar technology once it reaches space.
For Flexell Space, this partnership represents the next logical phase in an aggressive flight-testing roadmap. The company previously built valuable operational experience through two successful space demonstration missions that launched aboard Korea’s KSLV-II launch vehicle in November 2025 and October 2026. By building upon the flight data gathered during those domestic missions, the upcoming flights with Satoro will significantly broaden the scope of Flexell Space’s in-orbit validation efforts, generating the extensive operational datasets required for widespread commercial adoption.
Rigorous Validation and Global Market Readiness
Once the 2027 and 2028 missions are underway, Flexell Space plans to conduct comprehensive data correlation analyses. Engineers will compare ground-based laboratory test results against actual in-orbit operational data, tracking power output characteristics, degradation trends, and overall performance stability over extended periods in the harsh space environment.
The insights gleaned from these two orbital flights will directly inform future design refinements, ensuring that the technology meets the stringent reliability benchmarks expected by international satellite operators and aerospace primes. By securing these flight opportunities well in advance, Flexell Space aims to build an irrefutable technical foundation that can accelerate commercial supply agreements with global customers.
The partnership effectively marries Satoro’s proven expertise in small-satellite manufacturing, payload integration, and mission management with Flexell Space’s cutting-edge materials science. Satoro has built a formidable reputation in the smallsat sector, having successfully deployed 11 satellites into orbit across eight separate launches since 2021, maintaining a flawless 100% launch success rate. This operational track record makes the Singaporean firm an ideal partner for executing precise in-orbit demonstration and validation missions.
Leadership from both organizations expressed high optimism regarding the joint venture and its potential impact on the broader space economy.
“Commercializing space solar cells requires both ground-based performance validation and data collected in orbit,” said Taehun Ahn, CEO of Flexell Space, highlighting the necessity of real-world flight heritage. “With two demonstration opportunities secured for 2027 and 2028, we will systematically verify the performance and reliability of our next-generation solar cells and build the technical evidence required by global customers.”
Ahn further emphasized the strategic value of the alliance, noting that the collaboration with Satoro establishes a clear, predictable pathway from initial development to in-orbit demonstration, ultimately accelerating the company’s preparations for full-scale commercial manufacturing and global supply.
Echoing these sentiments, Satoro CEO Mark Lu underscored the mutual benefits of the agreement and his company’s commitment to supporting innovative space hardware developers.
“We are pleased to work with Flexell Space on the demonstration of its next-generation space solar cells,” Lu stated. “Drawing on Satoro’s CubeSat platforms and mission integration capabilities, we will work closely with Flexell Space to help secure the in-orbit data needed to validate its technology.”
Lu added that the upcoming missions are expected to push the boundaries of new space power technologies, while simultaneously laying a solid groundwork for long-term technical cooperation between the two companies.
Corporate Backgrounds: Flexell Space and Satoro
Flexell Space operates as an advanced space energy enterprise focused on creating low-cost, large-area, and ultralight power solutions tailored for satellites and modern space infrastructure. The firm traces its origins to an internal corporate venture at Hanwha Systems, giving it deep roots in the defense and aerospace sectors. Its core technological focus centers on CIGS and perovskite solar cell architectures, engineered specifically to withstand the extreme thermal fluctuations, atomic oxygen exposure, and radiation hazards characteristic of low Earth orbit and beyond. Through active partnerships with international space agencies and commercial satellite builders, Flexell Space continues to champion the transition toward lighter, more efficient space energy systems.
Satoro serves as a comprehensive "Satellite-as-a-service" provider based in Singapore, offering end-to-end capabilities that span satellite manufacturing, payload integration, launch procurement, and comprehensive in-orbit operations, demonstration, and validation services. By streamlining the complexities traditionally associated with deploying hardware into space, Satoro empowers technology developers around the world to test their innovations quickly and reliably, helping bridge the gap between laboratory concepts and commercially viable space assets.
