South Korea aims Mars mission with new space centre

South Korea has set its sights on an ambitious goal – making a Mars landing by 2045. President Yoon Suk Yeol outlined plans to invest approximately billion over the coming decades on space exploration, with the newly formed Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) spearheading the drive to establish the nation as a new space powerhouse, following in the footsteps of the United States, Russia, and China.

President Yoon expressed his longstanding belief in the infinite possibilities and future that lie in outer space, stating, “I have always believed that there is an infinite dream and future in outer space.” KASA’s objectives include landing a homegrown probe on the moon by 2032 and planting the Taegeukgi, the South Korean flag, on Mars by 2045.

South Korea has already achieved notable milestones in its space endeavors. In 2022, it sent up its first lunar orbiter, Danuri, on a SpaceX Falcon rocket. Furthermore, the country successfully launched its homegrown Nuri rocket and placed working satellites into orbit last year, after two failed attempts. Preparations are underway for the fourth launch of the Nuri rocket in the second half of 2025.

Modeled after NASA, KASA aims to serve as an “aerospace control tower,” overseeing aerospace policy, satellite development, and space missions, including moon exploration. Key projects will involve expanding South Korea’s participation in Artemis 3, an American-led mission that aims to put astronauts back on the Moon by 2026.

To support its ambitious goals, President Yoon vowed to “expand the space development budget by 1.5 trillion won (.1 billion) by 2027” – double the current space budget. Sacheon city, home to KASA’s headquarters, is envisioned to become the “Toulouse of Asia,” drawing a parallel to the southwestern French city known as a European space capital and the headquarters of Airbus.

KASA is actively pursuing collaborations and partnerships to drive its ambitious space exploration goals. One significant project is a planned moon landing in 2032, which is a joint venture with Hanwha Aerospace, South Korea’s largest defence and aerospace company. This collaboration underscores the agency’s commitment to involving the private sector in space missions.

“Our aim is also to support the private sector in space missions as extensively as we can,” Roh Kyung-won, deputy administrator of KASA, told AFP. This commitment is exemplified by an initial project involving a partnership with Perigee Aerospace, a South Korean space startup. KASA and Perigee Aerospace will collaborate to test a space launch vehicle from Jeju Island as early as next month.

Furthermore, KASA is actively seeking international collaborations to achieve its ambitious targets. The agency plans to expand South Korea’s participation in Artemis 3, an American-led mission that aims to put astronauts back on the Moon by 2026. This involvement will not only contribute to the global effort but also provide valuable experience and knowledge for KASA’s own lunar exploration endeavors.

The research and development program at KASA will be led by John Lee, who spent 30 years with NASA and was last a senior adviser at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. Lee’s expertise and experience will be invaluable in guiding the agency’s cutting-edge research efforts and ensuring they align with international best practices.

Through these strategic collaborations and partnerships, KASA aims to leverage the expertise and resources of both domestic and international entities, fostering a collaborative environment that propels South Korea’s space ambitions forward. By combining its own homegrown capabilities with the knowledge and experience of established space agencies and private companies, KASA is positioning itself to make significant contributions to the global space exploration endeavor.