A bold plan from South Korea could keep planetary science afloat—by going small—just as major space agencies like NASA tighten their belts.
South Korea is betting on cubesats to fill the widening gaps in space research, and it’s starting with Venus. As large-scale planetary missions stall under budget pressure, the nation’s Institute for Basic Science (IBS) has inked a deal for a small satellite to peer at Earth’s broiling sister planet—without leaving low Earth orbit.
The mission, called CLOVE (Chasing the Long-term Variability of Our Nearest Neighbor Planet Venus), won’t make headlines like billion-dollar deep space launches. But it’s quietly aiming to collect long-term data that could help decode one of the solar system’s most haunting riddles: how a planet so similar to Earth turned into a furnace wrapped in sulfuric clouds.
Venus, From a Distance
The first satellite in the series, CLOVESat-1, will ride in low Earth orbit starting next year. It won’t go to Venus, but it doesn’t need to.
Instead, it will watch the planet from afar using ultraviolet and near-infrared sensors designed by IBS. By taking measurements over time, scientists hope to track patterns in the Venusian atmosphere—especially in relation to the solar cycle.
The big idea? Space telescopes don’t have to fly millions of kilometers to be useful. They just need to be consistent, and good enough to spot subtle changes in light and chemistry.
This first cubesat is just the beginning. South Korea wants to launch five of them, one every three years, across a span of 15 years.
Why a Tiny Cubesat Could Matter More Than Ever
It’s not just about being clever. There’s also a hard truth: the money isn’t there for all the space dreams.
NASA’s Venus flagship, VERITAS, has been delayed again and again. Europe’s EnVision mission is still scheduled for the 2030s, but even that’s not guaranteed. Big missions are expensive, and right now, even the world’s top agencies are being forced to choose.
The South Korean approach? Do something now—and do it cheaply.
One satellite at a time. Lower cost. Faster deployment. Enough to keep the science going.
And they’re not alone. Small satellites are stepping in all over:
-
In 2023, a tiny Japanese cubesat hitchhiked on a lunar mission and performed science on the way.
-
NASA’s Mars Cube One (MarCO) mission showed that mini-satellites could relay data from deep space in real-time.
-
Several Earth-observing constellations are using cubesats for climate data, wildfire detection, and pollution tracking.
A new pattern is emerging: the small guys are carrying more weight.
NanoAvionics’ First Planetary Leap
The satellite itself is being built by NanoAvionics, a Lithuanian company that’s slowly building a niche in the academic and research satellite world. So far, over 20 research missions have used their platforms—studying everything from dark matter to greenhouse gases.
“This is the first time we’re building a satellite for planetary research,” said Atle Wøllo, CEO of NanoAvionics. “It’s a logical next step for us.”
CLOVESat-1 is based on the company’s 8U bus—small enough to hold in your hands, big enough to carry sophisticated optical payloads. It’s modular, so in theory, each new cubesat in the CLOVE program can iterate or evolve without needing a full redesign.
That kind of agility is rare in planetary science. Normally, you get one shot, one massive launch, one chance to make it count.
What They’re Hoping to Learn
CLOVESat-1’s instruments will measure how ultraviolet and near-infrared light bounces off Venus’s cloud tops. Scientists are especially interested in a mysterious substance that absorbs UV light—its identity remains unknown. Could it be tied to sulfur chemistry? Or something more exotic?
There’s also growing interest in monitoring solar-driven changes in the atmosphere. Over an 11-year solar cycle, how does solar radiation affect the balance of gases in Venus’s upper layers?
Small questions, sure—but over 15 years, they could add up.
And timing matters.
One-sentence paragraph: Right now, we have very little continuous data on Venus.
A lot of what we know comes from short bursts—a flyby here, a probe there. What CLOVE offers is long-term consistency, even if the data points are narrower.
Budget vs. Benefit: A Quick Comparison
Even if all five CLOVE satellites are launched, the entire program would still cost a fraction of a single large-scale mission.
Is it apples to oranges? Kind of. But with purse strings tightening, governments may prefer a basket of apples.
A Bigger Picture from a Smaller Lens
This isn’t just about Venus. It’s also about a changing mindset.
For decades, space science has leaned on flagship missions. Big budgets, big teams, long timelines. But as costs rise and delays pile up, a lot of researchers are looking for alternatives.
IBS isn’t trying to replace big missions. They’re just making sure the gaps don’t turn into chasms.
And if CLOVESat-1 works? Maybe other countries will copy the model. Maybe NASA or ESA will supplement their flagship projects with smaller satellites. Maybe universities will build their own.
After all, the tools are getting better. The sensors are smaller. And the launch costs—thanks to rideshares and reusable rockets—are dropping.
For now, CLOVESat-1 is just one cubesat among many.
But it’s aimed at Venus. And it’s thinking long-term.
