2024-09-10 06:37:28
The Republic of Korea intends to increase its share in the space sector and compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, BTA reported, according to information from AFP.
The Korea Aerospace Exploration Agency (KASA) was inaugurated in May this year. The goal is for the Republic of Korea to become the new space power, following in the footsteps of the US, Russia and China.
Seoul has announced that it plans to launch a probe to the moon by 2032, which should land on the surface of Earth’s natural satellite. The agency plans to eventually reach Mars.
KASA has announced that it plans to build a comprehensive system to transport supplies and astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) to compete with market leader Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
The company now charges cargo fees of between $2,000 and $3,000 per kilogram, with many countries using it to transport people or supplies to the ISS, as well as to launch satellites into orbit, AFP noted.
“Our goal is to reduce the cost of transporting supplies into low Earth orbit to less than US$1,000 per kilogram,” KASA director Yoon Yong Bin said at a press conference.
The Korea Aerospace Exploration Agency has also indicated that it is considering building an observatory to improve space weather forecasting.
The agency was modeled after NASA. This means it will act as an “aerospace control tower” that will oversee the development of satellites and space missions, including lunar exploration, adds AFP.
The Republic of Korea is sending its first Danuri lunar orbiter in 2022 on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. Last year, it successfully launched its Nuri rocket and launched functional satellites into orbit after two failed attempts. Seoul is preparing for the fourth launch of “Nuri” in the second half of 2025, recalls AFP.