South Korea is taking bold steps in space exploration with an ambitious plan that includes building a moon base and sending a mission to Mars by 2045. The Korea Aerospace Safety Agency (KASA), established last year, presented its new vision during a public hearing at the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) in Daejeon, reports "The Korea Times".
As part of its long-term strategy, KASA divides space exploration into several main areas: low-Earth orbit, the Moon, the heliosphere and deep space. The agency has defined five key missions, including low-Earth orbit and microgravity exploration, lunar exploration, and missions to the Sun and deep space.
Lunar ambitions: base and resource extraction
To boost lunar exploration, KASA plans to develop a next-generation lunar module for logistical purposes by 2040. A key goal is to build an economic base on Earth's natural satellite by 2045. South Korea also plans to create systems for mining and utilizing resources found on the moon. In support of this goal, the Korea Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources recently tested prototype lunar rovers in a former coal mine, simulating conditions close to those possible during lunar mining space missions.
South Korea's move reflects a global trend. The US plans to establish permanent bases on the Moon in the next decade as part of NASA's Artemis program. China has set a similar goal, joining forces with Russia and other countries, and India plans to build its own lunar base by 2047.
The Sun and Mars in KASA's plans
KASA's roadmap also includes the development of probes to monitor solar activity, with the aim of improving the safety of space missions studying the Sun and the heliosphere. The agency plans to launch a satellite by 2035 to observe the Sun at the so-called L4 Lagrange point, where the gravitational forces of the Sun and the Earth are balanced.
The culmination of KASA's ambitions is the planned first landing of a South Korean spacecraft on Mars by 2045. The stated goals clearly reflect South Korea's desire to position itself as a serious player in the new era of space exploration, notes the news portal MSN.