Synopsis
On January 22, KASA announced an investment of 806.4 billion won ($562.5 million) in R&D projects for 2025, aiming to position South Korea among the top five aerospace leaders globally.Key Takeaways
- KASA to invest 806.4 billion won in R&D projects.
- 43.3% increase from last year's budget.
- Focus on developing reusable rocket technologies.
- Ambitious goal to reduce space transport costs.
- Collaborative projects with NASA for lunar exploration.
Seoul, Jan 22 (NationPress) The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), South Korea's national space agency, announced on Wednesday its plans to allocate a total of 806.4 billion won (equivalent to $562.5 million) towards research and development (R&D) projects this year. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to establish South Korea as one of the top five global leaders in the aerospace industry.
KASA stated that the R&D budget for 2025 represents an impressive 43.3% increase in comparison to the previous year's funding, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.
Specifically, approximately 187.4 billion won will be directed towards R&D initiatives by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute.
Additionally, 147.8 billion won will be invested in enhancing South Korea's space rocket technologies, while 150.8 billion won will focus on developing a next-generation space rocket and 500 million won will be allocated for the advancement of reusable rocket technologies.
KASA has set an ambitious goal to create a reusable rocket capable of transporting 1 kilogram of cargo to space for just $1,000 by mid-2030. The agency also plans to initiate research programs aimed at developing an orbital transfer vehicle, manned spacecraft, and technologies for space reentry.
Furthermore, the national space agency intends to invest 24.9 billion won in the creation of a microsatellite swarm and 35 billion won for the development of a geostationary orbit communications satellite.
The agenda also includes plans for a next-generation midsized satellite designed for space science research this year, alongside a multipurpose satellite intended for observing the Korean Peninsula.
KASA will also strive to enhance satellite technologies, such as a low Earth orbit satellite communications system and the Korea Positioning System, which serves as a domestic satellite navigation solution.
Moreover, KASA aims to invest 7.3 billion won in a collaborative project with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to launch a Lunar Space Environment Monitor, and 45 billion won for its independent lunar spacecraft development project.
