For a long time, South Korea relied on Russia to strengthen its presence in space. But with the invasion ordered by Vladimir Putin to Ukraine in 2022, Asians focused on working with their own technology.
Always keeping in mind the threats from North Korea, for the South it will always be necessary to remain vigilant, and the space race emerges as a key element.
In June 2022, the country launched its first nationally manufactured rocket, the Nuri, from the Naro Space Center, in the southwest area of Goheung. It served to put several satellites into orbit, occurring after a failed attempt in 2021.
By last December, South Korea successfully held a test flight of the nation’s first built solid-fuel space rocket.
Which are the next challenges of the Asian nation in its space race?
South Korea wants to achieve its space independence
Yoon Suk-yeol, president of South Korea, explained that the route consists of carrying a ship to the Moon in 2032 and to Mars in 2045.
“In the future, countries with spatial vision will lead the world economy, and they will be able to solve the problems humanity is currently facing,” he said during the Korea Space Forum 2022, quoted by Space News.
“The dream of becoming a power in space is not far off. It will be an opportunity and hope for children and young people”.
In addition, it seeks to increase its share in the global space economy, from 1% today to 10% by 2045.
To this end, the country will formally create the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA), following the NASA model. “The Korea-US alliance will be extended to the Korea-US space alliance,” President Suk-yeol stressed. “We will expand cooperation with the international society on space security.”
goodbye to russia
Geopolitics after the Russian invasion of Ukraine led the Koreans to break relations withwith the space agency Roscosmos.
The approximate amount of 22 million dollars had been paid of the 45 million foreseen in the agreement for the launching of South Korean satellites into orbit.
For the moments, notes Bloomberg, South Korea does not consider collaborating with China, the closest giant. In addition to the United States, allies could be Australia and United Arab Emirates.
