Korean Space Agency Shares Future Mission Plans

Korean Space Agency Building (photo: dock. KASA)

JAKARTA – The Korea National Space Administration (KASA), an institution newly established in May, explained its plans and strategies in developing the country's space sector.

Delivered at the Scientific Session of the Committee for Space Research (COSPAR), KASA Administrator Yoon Young-bin said that Korea needed a special space agency to regulate and expand activities in space. Therefore, KASA was established.

"This year marks an important milestone in the history of Korea's space development with the establishment of KASA," Young-bin said, quoted from Spacenews. "(The government) responded to public opinion and recognized the need for a special government agency."

While regulating national space needs and establishing international cooperation, KASA will focus on the space economy. KASA will also focus on developing space transportation, satellites, space exploration, and aviation.

The plan is for KASA to land a rover on the Moon in 2032 and on Mars in 2045. In addition, KASA will also continue the development of the Nuri or KSLV rocket previously developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).

On the other hand, KASA Deputy Administrator Lee John explained that all KASA plans will supported by additional funds from the Korean government. Initially, the government set aside 1 trillion won (IDR 11.6 trillion) for the space sector.

However, with the establishment of KASA, this fund is projected to increase by 50 percent by 2027. All of this funding will be focused on various space missions, including observing the Sun from the Lagrange point L4, about 60 degrees in front of Earth.

They will launch a spacecraft to observe solar activity, especially solar flares, in an orbit that has never been proposed by a space agency from another country. This spacecraft will study various disturbances caused by the Sun.