The government will create an industrial ecosystem for private sector-led space development and technology acquisition. It will expand opportunities for corporations to engage in the development of space launch vehicles and satellites, provide fund support for securing finances, and assist in overseas expansion and workforce training.
The Korea Aerospace Administration announced on the 21st that it will present its 2025 business report and push ahead with seven key tasks to elevate the country into one of the top five aerospace nations.
First, a plan will be established to link the National Space Council, the highest policy decision-making body overseeing government space policy, with the Aerospace Development Policy Review Committee. Systems will also be established for workforce training in aerospace and the designation of a space development mission center.
To establish an aerospace economic ecosystem, the participation of the private sector in the development and utilization of launch vehicles and satellites will be expanded. In the aviation sector, future aircraft technologies, including urban air mobility (UAM), will be secured, and localization of aircraft materials and components will be supported. To encourage smooth research and development (R&D) investments in aerospace corporations, the aerospace fund will be revitalized with improvements to regulations and support for overseas expansion.
The planned Nuri rocket launch in the second half of this year will also help establish a privately led space transportation system. Research into reusable launch vehicles will be formally initiated to secure related technologies by the mid-2030s. Additionally, technologies for orbital transport vehicles and atmospheric re-entry will be acquired to diversify space transportation technology and enhance the capabilities for executing space missions.
In the satellite sector, the launch of the next-generation medium-sized satellite No. 3 and the multipurpose utility satellite No. 6 is scheduled. The launch of the geostationary weather satellite Cheollian No. 5 and the development project for low-earth orbit satellite communication technology for the verification of 6th generation (6G) mobile communication technology will begin, and efforts to waive the preliminary feasibility study for the development of the multipurpose utility satellite No. 8 will be pursued. The satellite development manual for corporations was distributed earlier this year, and the roadmap for the development of satellites for space technology verification will be announced in August.
In the field of space exploration, plans are underway to launch SPHEREx next month, marking the start of exploration at the fourth Lagrange point (L4), along with the active promotion of core technology and lander development for the moon landing in 2032.
Yoon Young-bin, head of the Korea Aerospace Administration, noted, "This year will be a competitive one among nations to secure leadership in aerospace. We will consolidate our capabilities to seize opportunities in the aerospace hegemony era and lead the global aerospace industry."