Unmanned Exploration Laboratory

What Unmanned Exploration Laboratory does

Unmanned Exploration Laboratory (UEL) is a privately held South Korean space robotics company, headquartered in Seoul with engineering, manufacturing, and administrative facilities in Magok, Ansan (Smart Factory), and Daejeon. Founded in 2016 under the STAR-Exploration banner and formally incorporated as UEL in June 2023, the company is led by Founder & CEO Namsuk Cho and describes itself as the only space robotics company in the Republic of Korea. UEL designs and builds unmanned exploration equipment — primarily lunar rovers and unmanned aerial vehicles — for extraterrestrial and Earth-side extreme-environment operations.

UEL's core product line is a three-rover family: SCARABS, a micro-sized two-wheel rover that acts as a 'slave-bot' and communication bridge for cave exploration; HAETAE, a medium four-wheel 'master-bot' with a bevel gear differential suspension for rough lunar terrain; and GEOBUGI, a four-wheel foldable rover designed for the limited mounting volume of a lunar lander. Supporting technologies include a fixed-wing solar-powered UAV with a carbon-fiber airframe, a proprietary KOHLS-1 lunar regolith simulant matched to Apollo sample 14163, a 6m x 2.5m Lunar Regolith Testbed, regolith-polymer 3D printing for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), and an origami-inspired deployable airless wheel developed with KAIST.

UEL's business model is government- and institution-led. Revenue streams include rover and UAV hardware sales for lunar and industrial applications, payload service contracts (e.g., a 2028 Payload Service Agreement with ispace for SCARAB delivery), research collaborations with KAIST and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), and spin-off funding from the Korea National Research Foundation (NRF). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and follows a quote-based B2B/government contracting model. UEL is currently in Phase 1 (Verification) of its lunar exploration roadmap, with a 2028 first lunar mission target, and is pursuing parallel Earth applications in construction, tunneling, mining, and hazardous environment inspection.

Name

Unmanned Exploration Laboratory

Legal name

Unmanned Exploration Laboratory

Website

http://www.uel.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Unmanned Exploration Laboratory (UEL) is a privately held South Korean space robotics company that designs lunar rovers, fixed-wing UAVs, and ISRU 3D-printing technologies for government space agencies and industrial extreme-environment operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Robotics and Lunar Exploration Vehicles

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) & Multirotor Drones (IMABAIAA), Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI)

Keywords

• Lunar exploration rovers
• Space robotics
• Unmanned aerial vehicles
• In-situ resource utilization
• Lunar regolith simulant

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Lunar Exploration Rover Sales: Design, development and sale of specialized rovers (SCARABS, HAETAE, GEOBUGI) for lunar exploration missions, including government space programs.
2. Payload Service Contracts: Contracts to transport rover payloads to the Moon as part of international lunar missions (e.g., PSA with ispace for SCARAB rover delivery in 2028).
3. Industrial Rover & Drone Solutions: Custom and original rovers and UAVs for Earth applications including construction, tunnels, mining sites, and hazardous environment operations.
4. Research & Development Contracts: Research collaborations and contracts with government agencies like Korea National Research Foundation for space technology projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

UEL designs and manufactures unmanned exploration vehicles — including the SCARABS two-wheel micro rover, HAETAE four-wheel medium rover, and GEOBUGI four-wheel foldable lunar rover — together with solar-powered fixed-wing UAVs for space and Earth applications. The company also produces industrial rovers and drones for hazardous environments (construction, tunnels, mining, volcanic crevasses) and develops supporting space infrastructure technologies including the proprietary KOHLS-1 lunar regolith simulant, a 6m x 2.5m Lunar Regolith Testbed, and ISRU regolith-polymer 3D printing for space construction.

Product overview

Unmanned Exploration Laboratory (UEL) is Korea's only space robotics company specializing in lunar and extraterrestrial exploration. The company offers a portfolio of unmanned exploration equipment including three lunar rovers (SCARABS - a 2-wheel micro rover for cave exploration and communication relay, HAETAE - a 4-wheel medium rover serving as the master-bot for science operations, and GEOBUGI - a 4-wheel foldable rover designed for lander mounting), fixed-wing UAVs for aerial reconnaissance, and industrial rovers for Earth-based extreme environments. UEL also provides supporting technologies including a Lunar Regolith Testbed, ISRU regolith-polymer 3D printing for space construction, and custom wheel designs optimized for lunar terrain. The company operates from multiple offices in South Korea including Magok, Sungsu, Ansan, and Daejeon.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SCARABS Lunar Exploration Rover Micro-sized 2-wheel lunar exploration rover designed to act as a slave-bot in the rover swarm, perform lunar cave exploration, and serve as a communication bridge between the lunar lander and other rovers. Targeted at government lunar exploration programs.
• HAETAE Lunar Exploration Rover Medium-sized 4-wheel lunar rover that serves as the master-bot in the rover swarm, equipped with a bevel gear differential suspension system for navigating rough lunar terrain and operating science devices. Targeted at government space agencies.
• GEOBUGI Lunar Exploration Rover 4-wheel foldable lunar rover designed for the limited mounting space of a lunar lander, providing shock resistance through a large surface area during launch and landing. Functions as a slave-bot within the rover swarm.
• Solar-Powered Fixed-Wing UAV Fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle with a lightweight carbon fiber body and auxiliary solar cell power system, designed for extended flight endurance and superior energy efficiency compared to multirotor UAVs. Targeted at extended aerial reconnaissance missions.
• Industrial Rover & Drone Solutions Custom and original rovers and UAVs designed for Earth applications including construction sites, tunnels, mining sites, volcanic crevasses, and hazardous environments, featuring MIL-STD-810 durability, non-GPS positioning, infrared and thermal imaging, and all-weather operation. Targeted at industrial and extreme-environment operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• First and only space robotics company in South Korea
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ispace Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 March 2026Payload Service Agreement (PSA) to transport South Korea's first two-wheeled lunar exploration rover, SCARAB, to the Moon in 2028. Demonstrates Japan-South Korea collaboration in space technology.
• KANUELL CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Payload Service Agreement with ispace for the lunar landing mission in 2028. SCARAB rover is a two-wheeled lunar exploration rover developed by UEL.
• KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)coreTechnology or IntegrationResearch collaboration to develop origami-inspired, deployable airless wheel for lunar rover navigation in challenging terrains such as pits and lava tubes. The wheel design enables diameter increase and overcoming obstacles.
• Korea National Research Foundation (NRF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected in 2023 by NRF for spin-offs from space technology research projects. Government funding support for commercialization of space robotics technology.
• Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected as family company through STAR-Exploration Project in 2017. Historical partnership that led to UEL's establishment as Korea's space robotics pioneer.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Intuitive Machines: US-based space company operating the Nova-C lunar lander and Micro Nova hopper. Direct competitor in commercial lunar payload delivery and mobility.
• Astrobotic Technology: US-based lunar logistics company developing landers and CubeRover small rovers for NASA CLPS missions. Direct competitor in commercial lunar surface mobility with flight heritage.
• Lunar Outpost: US-based company developing the Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform (MAPP) lunar rover. Direct peer in commercial small/mid lunar rover offerings with multiple NASA contracts.
• ispace Inc. Japanese lunar exploration company developing lunar landers and rovers. UEL's direct mission partner for the 2028 SCARAB delivery and a direct competitor in lunar mobility services.
• Venturi Astrolab: Developing the FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform, a large multi-purpose lunar rover. Compares to UEL's HAETAE platform as a larger-class lunar mobility solution.

Broad incumbents

• Parrot Drones: European commercial drone manufacturer with fixed-wing and multirotor offerings for industrial and government markets. Comparable to UEL's UAV products in commercial Earth-side applications.
• Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI): Korean national space agency and UEL's primary government partner. Operates the Nuri (KSLV-II) launch vehicle used for UEL's verification flights and runs the broader Korean lunar program.
• DJI: World's largest commercial drone manufacturer with multirotor and emerging fixed-wing platforms. Comparable on UAV manufacturing scale and industrial/commercial drone markets where UEL sells Earth-side products.
• NASA JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory): US government laboratory that has developed nearly all prior lunar and Mars rovers (Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity, Perseverance). Sets the technical benchmark for space robotics that UEL's rovers compete against.

Emerging players

• Made In Space (Redwire): Develops in-space manufacturing and 3D printing technology, including regolith-based printing concepts. Comparable to UEL's ISRU regolith-polymer 3D printing for lunar construction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ueltothemoon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors13 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Unmanned Exploration Laboratory