Korea Institute for Astronauts

What Korea Institute for Astronauts does

The Korea Institute for Astronauts (KIFA) is a privately established research institute headquartered at Kookmin University in Seoul, South Korea, founded on October 21, 2025, and positioned as Korea's first institute focused specifically on human factors in space. Its research portfolio spans space medicine, spacesuit and spacewalk systems, astrobiology and space food, space habitat modeling with 3D printing, Zero-G research, space mental health and ethics, and space policy, with stated emphasis on preparing for Moon and Mars missions projected for the 2030s. The institute's technology stack includes a Space Habitat Experiments (SHE) program using 3D printing and analog astronaut simulations, an Explainable AI-based Clinical Decision Support System for Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (using EfficientNet-B0 with 96.07% accuracy on OCT imaging), AI-based exercise feedback systems combining sensor technology and biomechanics, and an astronaut selection and training framework modeled on NASA and ESA best practices including a 2-year foundational curriculum.

KIFA's customer and stakeholder base consists of academic researchers, astronauts and space professionals, graduate and PhD students, and government officials across Korea, the United States, Europe, India, Australia, and Luxembourg. Its business model relies on three pillars: research grants and institutional funding from government agencies and international space organizations, conference and forum fees (regular attendees pay $350, doctoral candidates $300, poster/local presenters $250, commercial booths $600 for the 2026 conference), and bespoke research collaboration, IP-sharing, and co-branding arrangements with institutional partners. The institute reaches its audience through academic conferences (KIFA International Space Conference 2026, KIFA Space Forum 2025), scholarly publications in SCI(E)/SSCI journals, a publishing partnership with Cambridge Scholars Publishing and Brill, and direct partnerships with University of Oxford, Purdue University, and Titans Space Industries. No equity funding rounds, ownership structure, or revenue figures have been disclosed.

Name

Korea Institute for Astronauts

Legal name

Korea Institute for Astronauts

Website

https://kifaspace.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Korea Institute for Astronauts (KIFA) is a Seoul-based, privately established research institute (founded October 2025) conducting multidisciplinary research on human spaceflight, astronaut training, space medicine, and habitat design, serving academic researchers, space professionals, and government partners internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Research Services

NAICS

Flight Training (611512)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control (IMABACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI), Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)

Keywords

• Human spaceflight research
• Space medicine studies
• Astronaut training programs
• Space habitat modeling
• Astrobiology research

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Institutional Funding: KIFA receives funding from government agencies, international space organizations (NASA, ESA), and research foundations for long-term space research projects.
2. Conference Fees: Revenue from KIFA International Space Conference 2026 with tiered pricing: $350 regular, $300 doctoral candidates, $250 poster/local presenters, $600 commercial booths.
3. Partnership Collaboration Opportunities: Custom research collaboration opportunities, intellectual property sharing agreements, co-branding opportunities, and recognition in research publications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KIFA conducts multidisciplinary research and training on human spaceflight, covering space medicine, spacesuit design, astrobiology, space policy, ethics, physiology, space habitat modeling, and zero-gravity research. It also delivers astronaut selection and two-year foundational training programs, hosts the annual KIFA International Space Conference, and runs space education programs for graduate students and government officials in preparation for 2030s Moon and Mars missions.

Product overview

The Korea Institute for Astronauts (KIFA) is a research institute focused on multidisciplinary human spaceflight research and astronaut development. Rather than a unified software product, KIFA offers an integrated portfolio of research services and programs including: Human Spaceflight Research Programs covering space medicine, astrobiology, spacesuit design, and zero-gravity research; Astronaut Selection and Training services; Space Habitat Experiments (SHE) using analog astronaut simulations; and educational programs for students and government officials. KIFA also organizes the annual KIFA International Space Conference as a platform for academic exchange. The institute operates in collaboration with international partners including Oxford University, Purdue University, and Titans Space Industries, and is developing AI-based health monitoring systems for deep space missions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Human Spaceflight Research Programs
• Astronaut Selection and Training
• Space Medicine Research
• Space Habitat Experiments (SHE)
• Zero-Gravity Research
• Spacesuit and Spacewalk Systems Research
• Astrobiology and Space Food Research
• Space Mental Health and Ethics Research
• Space Education Programs
• KIFA International Space Conference 2026

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• University of Oxford (Space Innovation Lab, NDORMS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025KIFA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with University of Oxford's Space Innovation Lab in December 2025. The partnership establishes a framework for collaboration in human space research, focusing on joint research activities at the International Space Station (ISS), exchange of academic materials and publications, faculty members exchanges, and undergraduate and graduate student exchange programs. This represents an important milestone in advancing international cooperation in space research.
• Purdue University (USA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIFA and Purdue University launched a new research collaboration focused on challenges of humans in deep space exploration. They conduct joint space research activities including astrobiotech systems for plant fungal bioproduction and organize symposiums. This partnership formalizes a shared commitment to advancing space research through joint projects, knowledge exchange, and collaborative innovation at the frontiers of human exploration.
• Titans Space Industries Inc. (USA)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with Titans Space Industries Inc., a leading space technology company based in Orlando, Florida. The MoU marks a significant milestone in advancing Korea's participation in commercial space exploration and astronaut development programs. Under this agreement, both organizations collaborate on joint space activities (astronaut training and commercial space operations), knowledge exchange, professional development programs, and academic collaboration. The cooperation operates on principles of equality and reciprocity.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Korea Institute for Astronauts