About Us

The Y.K. Bae Corp. is dedicated to creating revolutionary technologies for the next generation space endeavors, yet aiming at facilitating their rapid implementation and commercialization.

One important goal of the Y.K. Bae Corp. is enhancing the human space capability of exploring beyond our solar system and exploiting space resources, such as other planets and asteroids. We aspire to develop space technologies that will enable to observe the earth-like planets in other stars and to send spacecraft to them. We know the goal is extremely technically challenging, however, we are undaunted and believe that we will be able to achieve it in our generation. Another important goal of the Y.K. Bae Corp. is developing environmentally friendly “Green” space technologies.

As a first step towards this important goal, Y.K. Bae Corp. adapted radically different approaches from the conventional space programs in developing space technologies. For propulsion, we are working on a revolutionary photon thruster, Photonic Laser Thruster (PLT), rather than incrementally improving conventional thrusters, such as chemical and electrical thrusters. Once fully implemented, PLT will be an environmentally friendly “Green” thruster, which minimizes the usage of toxic or environmentally harmful traditional rocket fuels. Recently, proof-of-principle of PLT has been successfully demonstrated and its results have been published in several peer-reviewed journals. Thus, we are confident that PLT will overcome the physical barriers of current rocket technology. Currently, our most important challenge is the development of flight-ready Photonic Laser Thruster (PLT) and its applications. When fully developed into the flight-ready systems, the PLT will enable wide ranges of revolutionary space endeavors from constructing ultralarge space telescopes and radars at affordable cost to propelling spacecraft to unprecedented speeds.

Executive Management

Young K. Bae, Ph.D., CEO and CTO

Dr. Bae is the founder of the Y.K. Bae Corp., and has extensive experience in the executive management of fast growing science and technology companies. Among his previous work experiences, Dr. Bae was the founder and CEO of the Bae Institute, a unique institute dedicated to creating revolutionary technologies for the next generation space and medical endeavors, yet aiming at facilitating their rapid implementation and commercialization.

Dr. Bae is the inventor of the patent-pending Photonic Laser Thruster (PLT): an innovative photon thruster, and Photon Tether Formation Flight (PTFF): a unique promising solution to the nano-meter accuracy formation flying with baseline distances up to tens of kms. This nano-precision, contamination-free PTFF System is ideal for next generation satellite/spacecraft missions, including km-size telescopes and radars. PTFF research was funded by NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC).

After obtaining a Ph.D. in experimental atomic and nuclear physics in the applications of nuclear fusion and particle beams from UC Berkeley in 1982, Dr. Bae worked as a physicist at SRI International (formerly known as Stanford Research Institute) for 9 years, where he led research projects related with laser and particle beams, antimatter physics, high energy density materials, and nano-particles. He and his colleagues discovered the self neutralizing He2- molecular ion.  More specifically, Dr. Bae was one of the early pioneers in researching C60 and its applications, worked on antimatter propulsion research in which the method of condensing antimatter was investigated, and researched on hypervelocity (v> 100 km/s) impact studies on clusters for nuclear fusion applications.  In early 1990’s, at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Dr. Bae continued the research on hypervelocity impact studies on clusters and particles for nuclear fusion applications. There, Dr. Bae and his colleagues discovered that the cluster ions produce highly enhanced compression compared with individual ions.  This discovery may result in more efficient heavy ion nuclear fusion schemes that are suitable to space propulsion applications. In mid 1990’s, at the Rocket Propulsion Laboratory of Edwards Air Force Base (currently AFRL), Dr. Bae led and participated in research projects that investigated various advanced propulsion concepts including cryogenic chemical rocket concepts and antimatter propulsion concepts. In the late 1990’s, he worked at fast growing R&D companies and universities leading technology teams on nuclear fusion and medical device development. 

Mark A. Franzen, CFO

Mark Franzen has more than 30 years of experience in top-level accounting and corporate finance assignments for a wide variety of companies.

Most recently, he was President of Franzen Business Consulting which provides financial and business consulting to public and private companies. Serving in this capacity, he assisted American Mold Guard in the Initial Public Offering in May, 2006, assisted in the $10 million financing for a software company, completed a registration statement for an oil production company and assisted numerous companies with their SEC filings.

Prior to his consulting practice, he was the CFO of MTI Technology. Within three quarters of his joining the Company, he assisted the Company in reducing operating expenses by 60%, achieving positive cash flow, restored the Company to profitability and its stock price had the 36th largest increase of 3,800 Micro Cap companies.

He has been the CFO of several venture-backed companies including Y Media, Evolve Products, Storage Concepts, Calios, UniStructure, Digital Sound and Computers International during which time he managed equity infusions in excess of $100 million and established bank and capital lease lines in excess of $80 million. In 1993, Mark was CFO for Level One Communications, where he managed the IPO process and completed a $45 million IPO in August 1993. From 1980 to 1983, Mark was Executive Vice President of Finance of Micro Peripherals, where he managed equity infusions of $24 million and negotiated the $95 million sale of the company. From 1967 to 1975 he was a senior audit manager of Price Waterhouse. Mark received a B.S degree in Business Administration with an Accounting major in 1967 from California State University at Northridge. He is a certified public accountant.

Technology Advisors and Consultants

Eugene Levin, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, STAR, Inc.

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