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WIRED
7 days ago
- Science
- WIRED
South Korea Plans to Build a Base on the Moon
Jul 23, 2025 5:00 AM The country's newly formed space agency wants to establish a lunar base by 2045. An artist's illustration of a lunar base. Illustration:China, India, and Japan are not the only countries on the Asian continent looking to establish themselves in the fledgling space economy. South Korea also wants to be in the space race, and even plans for a presence beyond Earth's orbit, with ambitions to create its own lunar base within 20 years. At a public meeting held at the National Research Foundation of Korea on July 17, the South Korean AeroSpace Administration (KASA) released a roadmap proposing 'five core missions, including low-Earth orbit and microgravity exploration, lunar exploration, and solar and space science missions,' The Korean Times has reported. KASA had already proposed placing a robotic lander on the lunar surface by 2032, but the new master plan is much more ambitious, including the development of a new lunar lander by 2040, as well as the construction of a lunar economic base by 2045. The Republic of Korea is not starting from scratch in the field of lunar exploration. In mid-2022, the country launched Danuri, its first lunar probe, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Danuri reached lunar orbit later that year and is still in operation, studying the moon's natural resources with its suite of instruments. It is also intended to test space technology that will be used by KASA on future missions. This mission was part of the first phase of the Korean Lunar Exploration Program. Phase two includes the launch in 2032 of the aforementioned robotic module, as well as another lunar orbiter and a rover weighing 20 kilograms. This second phase will no longer rely on a SpaceX rocket or even a pad on US soil; rather, the mission will be launched using the country's KSLV-III rocket, which is still under development, from the Naro Space Center, located on the Republic of Korea's southern coast. The Korea Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources is assisting with preparations by deploying prototype lunar rovers in abandoned coal mines to evaluate technologies that could be used in upcoming space mining tasks. My KASA Is Your NASA KASA was created only recently, in May 2024, by the South Korean government, as a domestic version of NASA. It now oversees the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), which has handled development of the country's aerospace technologies since its establishment in 1989. Both KARI and the republic's national space research organization, the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, are now sub-agencies of KASA. With its new special agency and the backing of the private sector, South Korea is seeking to position itself among the top five countries in the field of space exploration. KASA also envisions landing a module on Mars in 2045, as well as the development of probes to monitor solar activity and improve space security, including, by 2035, the deployment of a solar observation satellite at the L4 Lagrange point (a stable position in space where small objects are held in place by the gravitational forces of the sun and Earth). South Korea, of course, is not the only country looking to build a lunar base by the middle of this century or to develop space economy infrastructure. Through the Artemis program, NASA intends to establish a lunar base within the next decade—if political conflicts do not derail that project. China, in collaboration with Russia and other countries, has also set a goal of building a lunar base by 2045. India also has its sights set on the moon, with plans for its own base on the surface by 2047. This story originally appeared on WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish.
Express Tribune
21-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
South Korea sets ambitious goal to build a moon base by 2045
South Korea has announced plans to establish a lunar base by 2045, marking a significant leap in the nation's space exploration ambitions. This goal is part of a comprehensive exploration roadmap revealed by the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) on July 17, which outlines several key missions in lunar exploration, space science, and microgravity research. KASA's ambitious plan includes developing homegrown technology for lunar landings, rovers, and resource extraction, such as mining water ice from the moon. The nation is also focused on preparing the necessary infrastructure to support long-term lunar missions, as reported by The Korea Times. The blueprint aims to see South Korea land a robotic mission on the moon by 2032, with a more advanced lander under development for a potential mission in 2040. The goal of constructing a permanent economic base on the moon by 2045 is part of the country's broader vision to enhance its position in global space exploration. South Korea just laid out its long-term space exploration road map, which features the planned construction of a moon base two decades from now. — (@SPACEdotcom) July 20, 2025 South Korea is already laying the groundwork for its lunar aspirations. In August 2022, the country successfully launched its first moon probe, the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (Danuri), which reached lunar orbit and continues to study the moon. In addition, prototype lunar rovers have been tested in an abandoned coal mine, simulating conditions for potential space mining operations. KASA's goal is to foster innovation that can eventually lead to a sustainable lunar presence, similar to plans announced by other space-faring nations, according to The United States, through NASA's Artemis programme, is also working on lunar bases, while China has partnered with Russia for a similar endeavour. India, too, has its sights set on building a moon base by 2047. In addition to its lunar ambitions, South Korea's space agency is also eyeing Mars, with aspirations of conducting its first Mars landing by 2045. As nations around the world ramp up their efforts for lunar exploration, South Korea's goal reflects the increasing global interest in the moon as a hub for scientific and economic opportunities.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
South Korea wants to build a moon base by 2045
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. South Korea's space ambitions keep growing. The nation wants to build a moon base by 2025, The Korea Times reported on Thursday (July 17), citing a long-term exploration road map that the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) laid out that same day during a hearing at the National Research Foundation of Korea in Daejeon. That road map "outlines five core missions, including low Earth orbit and microgravity exploration, lunar exploration, and solar and space science missions," The Korea Times wrote. KASA, which was established just last year, aims to develop homegrown lunar landing and roving technology, as well as the ability to extract and exploit moon resources such as water ice. Some of this work is already underway. For example, the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources recently deployed prototype lunar rovers in an abandoned coal mine, testing tech that could be used for space mining down the road. And South Korea already has some experience at and around the moon. In August 2022, the nation launched its first moon probe — called the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter or Danuri — atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Danuri reached lunar orbit four months later and is still going strong, studying the moon with its suite of instruments. South Korea had already been aiming for the lunar surface; officials have said they want to put a robotic lander on the moon by 2032. But the newly revealed road map ups the ante. The nation plans to develop a new, presumably more capable moon lander by 2040, "with the goal of building a lunar economic base by 2045," The Korea Times wrote. Related Stories: — South Korea creates new KASA space agency, sets sights on the moon and Mars — South Korea's moon mission snaps stunning Earth pics after successful lunar arrival — South Korea is converting an abandoned coal mine into a moon exploration testing ground South Korea isn't the only nation with moon-base ambitions. The United States also plans to build one or more lunar outposts in the next decade or so, via NASA's Artemis program. China is working toward the goal as well, in partnership with Russia and other nations. And India has said it wants to build a moon base by 2047. The moon isn't KASA's only distant destination, by the way; the agency also wants to pull off South Korea's first-ever Mars landing by 2045.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
South Korea wants to build a moon base by 2045
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. South Korea's space ambitions keep growing. The nation wants to build a moon base by 2025, The Korea Times reported on Thursday (July 17), citing a long-term exploration road map that the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) laid out that same day during a hearing at the National Research Foundation of Korea in Daejeon. That road map "outlines five core missions, including low Earth orbit and microgravity exploration, lunar exploration, and solar and space science missions," The Korea Times wrote. KASA, which was established just last year, aims to develop homegrown lunar landing and roving technology, as well as the ability to extract and exploit moon resources such as water ice. Some of this work is already underway. For example, the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources recently deployed prototype lunar rovers in an abandoned coal mine, testing tech that could be used for space mining down the road. And South Korea already has some experience at and around the moon. In August 2022, the nation launched its first moon probe — called the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter or Danuri — atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Danuri reached lunar orbit four months later and is still going strong, studying the moon with its suite of instruments. South Korea had already been aiming for the lunar surface; officials have said they want to put a robotic lander on the moon by 2032. But the newly revealed road map ups the ante. The nation plans to develop a new, presumably more capable moon lander by 2040, "with the goal of building a lunar economic base by 2045," The Korea Times wrote. Related Stories: — South Korea creates new KASA space agency, sets sights on the moon and Mars — South Korea's moon mission snaps stunning Earth pics after successful lunar arrival — South Korea is converting an abandoned coal mine into a moon exploration testing ground South Korea isn't the only nation with moon-base ambitions. The United States also plans to build one or more lunar outposts in the next decade or so, via NASA's Artemis program. China is working toward the goal as well, in partnership with Russia and other nations. And India has said it wants to build a moon base by 2047. The moon isn't KASA's only distant destination, by the way; the agency also wants to pull off South Korea's first-ever Mars landing by 2045.
Straits Times
01-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
South Korea to have 118 days off in 2026
The longest holiday will be the five-day Lunar New Year set from Feb 14 to 18. PHOTO: AFP South Korea to have 118 days off in 2026 SEOUL - South Koreans will have a total of 118 days off, including weekends and holidays, in 2026, one day fewer than this year, the Korean Aerospace Administration's calendar guideline showed on July 7. The longest holiday will be the five-day Lunar New Year set from Feb 14 to 18. South Korea will see 52 Sundays and 20 additional public holidays, including substitute ones, amounting to 72 days off for employees on a standard five-day work week. But the actual number of days off for holidays would be 70, with the March 1 Independence Movement Day and Buddha's Birthday falling on Sundays. It remains unclear whether substitute holidays will be designated for either day. Public holidays combined with weekends would result in 122 days off. However, with some holidays falling on Saturdays, the number effectively stands at 118. There will be eight holidays that span three days or more. This includes the Lunar New Year and the Chuseok holiday from Sept 24 to 27. There will be five three-day weekends in 2026, including National Foundation Day and Christmas. Details of the calendar guideline can be found on the KASA website ( THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
