Seoul
South Korea’s space agency, Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), revealed its vision for a competitive space transportation system and future space exploration. The plan includes the development of cost-effective transportation in space and efforts to boost the country’s space economy by 2045.
KASA’s goal is to build a “space passageway” to link Earth with points in space. This includes the creation of vehicles that can lower space transportation costs in low Earth orbit to under US$1,000 per kilogram by the 2030s. The current transportation cost for South Korea’s Nuri rocket is $24,000 per kilogram, while SpaceX charges around $2,000 to $3,000 per kilogram.
Plans for deep space exploration are also being mapped out, with missions aimed at the Lagrange point L4, the moon, and Mars. By 2035, KASA intends to send a spacecraft to L4 to observe the sun. The agency is also working on landing a spacecraft on the moon by 2032 and on Mars by 2045.
KASA is focused on growing a private-led aerospace industry, supporting the development of advanced technologies. International cooperation and research efforts will also be expanded, as KASA seeks to strengthen ties with global space powers.
