South Korea has unveiled ambitious plans to land on Mars by 2045, with a projected investment of 100 trillion won ($72.6 billion) in space exploration. President Yoon Suk Yeol made the announcement during the inauguration of the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA), the nation’s first space agency.
The new agency aims to propel South Korea into the top five global space powers by fostering innovation and nurturing aerospace expertise. President Yoon emphasized that KASA will play a pivotal role in developing the country’s “space economy” by supporting research and development and collaborating with hundreds of businesses.
“KASA will usher in a new space era by cultivating experts while intensively supporting the aerospace industry ecosystem and fostering challenging and innovative R&D,” Yoon said. South Korea’s first lunar lander is scheduled for 2032.
In May of the previous year, South Korea became the seventh country to develop an indigenous space launch vehicle and satellite technology, successfully deploying a commercial-grade satellite with the Nuri rocket.
KASA will consolidate policy and development roles currently distributed across various government ministries, incorporating the aerospace research institute responsible for the Nuri rocket and its predecessors.
South Korea plans at least three more space launches by 2027 and aims to launch military satellites, reflecting the growing importance of space technology for national pride and practical applications.
North Korea recently attempted to launch a military spy satellite but failed, citing engine issues. Despite this, experts noted the attempt as a significant step for the heavily sanctioned nation. The launch was condemned by South Korea, Japan, and the United States for violating U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Meanwhile, China’s space program continues to advance with heavy-lift rockets, the Tiangong space station, and the Mars rover Zhurong. Japan, which landed a lunar rover in January, plans a Mars rover mission. India also made lunar landing history last year.