SEOUL, December 13 (ANI/WAM): South Korea aims to launch a lunar communication orbiter in 2029 and a lunar lander in 2032 as part of its long-term space exploration road map, the head of the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) said on Friday.
KASA Administrator Yoon Young-bin unveiled the goals during the agency’s policy briefing to President Lee Jae Myung in the central administrative city of Sejong, outlining plans to strengthen the country’s space capabilities.
Yoon said the agency plans to attempt the 2029 orbiter mission using South Korea’s homegrown Nuri rocket. Last month, the country successfully completed the fourth launch of the Nuri space launch vehicle, placing 13 satellites into orbit.
He explained that securing deep-space communications technology through the lunar communication orbiter would lay the groundwork for the planned launch of an unmanned lunar lander in 2032.
A lunar communications orbiter is considered essential for moon missions, as direct communication with Earth from the far side of the moon is not possible.
According to Yoon, KASA also plans to conduct at least one Nuri launch per year through 2032 to raise its launch success rate to over 90 percent, and to develop a reusable next-generation launch vehicle by 2035.
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