South Korea Targets Mars Landing by 2045 with New Space Agency Launch
South Korea has launched its first space agency, the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA), with ambitious plans to significantly advance its space exploration capabilities. The country aims to make a Mars landing by 2045 and will allocate 100 trillion won ($72.6 billion) to support this and other space endeavors. KASA will lead South Korea's "space economy," involving hundreds of businesses and enterprises, with the goal of positioning the country among the world's top five space powers. The agency will consolidate policy and development functions previously spread across different government ministries and will incorporate the aerospace research institute responsible for the Nuri rocket.
President Yoon Suk Yeol has outlined a comprehensive blueprint for space exploration, including sending a lunar rover by 2032 and raising the state budget for space exploration to 1.5 trillion won by 2027, an increase of about 80 percent from the current allocation. The initiative, named the "Space Gwanggaeto Project" after a historic Korean ruler, aims to foster expertise, support the aerospace industry ecosystem, and drive innovative research and development. South Korea plans at least three more space launches by 2027 and has intentions to launch military satellites as part of its broader strategy to enhance national capabilities and pride in space exploration.
