한화시스템(대표이사 어성철)의 사내벤처 ‘플렉셀 스페이스(Flexell Space)’가 ‘우주용 탠덤 태양전지’를 테란 오비탈 위성에 공급하는 것을 약속하며, 미국 시장 진출의 첫발을 내디뎠다.

▲(From left in the photo) Marc Bell, co-founder and chairman of Terran Orbital, and Taehoon Ahn, research fellow at Hanwha Systems and CEO of Plexel Space, are taking a commemorative photo after signing the MOU.
MOU with Terran Orbital of the United States for 'Solar Cell Supply and Overseas Business Cooperation'
Hanwha Systems (CEO Sung-chul Eo)'s in-house venture 'Flexell Space' has taken its first step into the US market by promising to supply 'tandem solar cells for space' to the Terran Orbital satellite.
Flexel Space announced on the 28th that it recently signed a business agreement (MOU) with Terran Orbital Corporation, an American satellite manufacturing company, for ‘solar cell supply and overseas business cooperation.’
Flexel Space and Terran Orbital have expressed their intention to strengthen their position in the U.S. and Asian markets by developing various technological collaborations and joint solutions in the field of satellite manufacturing, including solar cells.
As a first step, Plexel Space plans to supply the 'space tandem solar cell' it is developing to the Terran Orbital satellite.
The two companies are currently collaborating to participate in U.S. government projects related to satellites and solar cells, and through this, they plan to accumulate differentiated products and technologies targeting the Korean and U.S. markets.
Terran Orbital designs and manufactures military and civilian satellites.ot; is a leading American satellite manufacturing company that provides total satellite solutions from production, launch, and mission operation.
Since 2019, we have been manufacturing military satellite bodies (BUS) in cooperation with Lockheed Martin, the world's largest defense company, to carry out space technology and defense capability projects for the Space Development Agency (SDA) under the U.S. Department of Defense.
In 2022, it received an investment of $100 million (KRW 143.1 billion) from Lockheed Martin for cooperation in developing and selling small satellites.
Through this agreement, the two companies plan to strengthen their strategic partnership for the development of cutting-edge satellite solutions, including: △supply of solar cells for satellites, △joint research and development of satellite power systems, △development of next-generation satellite technologies that can secure a strategic advantage in the global market, and △resource sharing to improve product performance and enhance price competitiveness.
The solar cells to be supplied to Terran Orbital combine CIGS and perovskite to provide light weight and high output at a lower cost than existing product groups, and are thus attracting attention as a driving force for the development of the satellite and spacecraft industries.
The tandem solar cells of Plexel Space have a flexible bending property, so they can be rolled up and unfolded like a scroll, allowing customers to unfold the solar cells to the desired output and use them. They can also be applied to various satellite surfaces, such as small areas and curved surfaces.
Marc Bell, Co-Founder and Chairman of Terran Orbital, said, “We are very excited to form a strategic partnership with Hanwha Systems. “This collaboration will be an important milestone for the two companies to expand their jointly developed satellite solutions to global regions, including the U.S. and Asia,” he said.
“Tandem solar cells that offer improved efficiency and cost-effectiveness compared to existing solar cells have taken their first steps in the U.S., the center of the global space market,” said Ahn Tae-hoon, senior researcher at Hanwha Systems and CEO of Plexel Space. “We will prove the performance of the first new material solar cell in space and establish an unrivaled position in the global space solar cell market.”
Through this agreement, Hanwha Systems expects to accelerate the commercialization of tandem solar cells for space use and promote the growth of the space industry by focusing on the development of key components required for various space projects, including satellite manufacturing, space exploration, and space power plants.