Latest news with #KoreaPathfinderLunarOrbiter
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.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
South Korea is converting an abandoned coal mine into a moon exploration testing ground
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. South Korea is transforming abandoned coal mines into testing grounds for lunar exploration. The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) conducted a demonstration inside the tunnel of the former Hamtae mine in Taebaek, Gangwon Province, in late March, deploying prototype lunar rovers using autonomous navigation and other technologies with potential for use in space mining, the South Korean news outlet Pulse reported. The rovers demonstrated mobility across challenging terrain, sample collection and remote sensing capabilities. The move highlights the plan, which involves government and research institutes, to turn the mine into a space resource convergence demonstration complex and help develop technologies that could extract useful resources from the moon. "To compete in the global resource race, Korea must develop space resource technologies independently," said Kim Kyeong-ja, head of the Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Center at KIGAM, Pulse reported. "This requires mobilizing national capabilities via the collaboration of multiple institutions. It is not something that a single researcher or institute can achieve alone." Related: South Korea creates new KASA space agency, sets sights on the moon and Mars Related Stories: — South Korea's moon mission snaps stunning Earth pics after successful lunar arrival — Moon mining gains momentum as private companies plan for a lunar economy — The moon: Everything you need to know about Earth's companion South Korea has already launched a lunar orbiter, Danuri, which is also known as the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO). The country established its national space agency, KASA, last year and is targeting its first robotic lunar landing by 2032. Taebek is South Korea's highest-elevation city, and therefore symbolically the closest one to space. Its former use for mining coal for energy is giving way to the testing of technology that could unlock future energy sources from off world. "The coal that was once mined in Taebaek fueled Korea's industrialization during the 1960s," KIGAM President Lee Pyeong-koo said. "We are now beginning a new mission to explore energy resources for future generations, and we are once again starting in Taebaek."
