Intensifying Space Development War Amid Pandemic... "Korea Also Joins in Earnest"

South Korea Begins Full-Scale Actions with First Korean-Type Launch Vehicle Launch in October This Year
Advanced Countries like the US and China Intensify 'War' over Moon Exploration, Rulemaking, and Commercialization

On the afternoon of the 28th, at the Naro Space Center launch pad in Bongrae-myeon, Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, a test launch vehicle for the Korean launch vehicle Nuriho's engine emitted white smoke and soared into the sky. This engine test launch vehicle is designed to verify the performance of the 75-ton liquid engine used in the Korean launch vehicle 'Nuriho' and corresponds to the second stage of Nuriho, which consists of a total of three stages. The test launch vehicle is 25.8 meters long, has a maximum diameter of 2.6 meters, and weighs 52.1 tons. / Goheung = Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Space development is regarded as the only means for humanity's future 'sustainability.' This is because the Earth is increasingly unlikely to support humanity due to resource depletion, worsening environmental pollution, and climate change. Major powers such as the United States, Europe, Japan, Russia, and China are investing enormous funds and time in space development, including building artificial satellites and shuttles, and exploring the Moon and Mars, striving to pioneer their own domains. Although South Korea is still in its infancy, it plans to accelerate space development this year by launching its first domestically developed three-stage rocket capable of satellite launch in October, but it still has a long way to go compared to leading advanced countries.

The Intensifying Space Development Race

The United States, the most advanced country in space development, is fervently pursuing the international lunar exploration program called the 'Artemis Project.' This project aims to send two astronauts, including a woman, to the Moon by 2024. NASA has already landed a total of 12 astronauts on the Moon six times from 1969 to 1972 through the 'Apollo Program.'

The U.S. has openly expressed its intention to lead the creation of the 'rules' for space development. In October last year, it signed the 'Artemis Accords' with nine countries including Australia, Canada, Japan, Luxembourg, Italy, and the United Kingdom, establishing principles for the use of the Moon, Mars, and asteroids and cooperation in private space exploration.

In the same year, it consecutively announced SPD-5 (Space Policy Directive-5) for establishing cybersecurity standards and SPD-6, the national strategy on the use of nuclear propulsion in space. It also established the Office of Space Commerce (OSC) under the Department of Commerce (DOC), eased commercial space launch and re-entry regulations through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), supporting private commercial space development such as Elon Musk's SpaceX, and actively organized the Space Force.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

China is actively advancing space development by consecutively launching lunar and Mars probes according to the space development roadmap announced in 2018. China's Mars probe Tianwen-1, launched in July 2020, successfully entered Mars orbit on the 10th of this month, and Chang'e 5, launched in November of the same year, succeeded in collecting lunar samples and returning them to Earth a month later, achieving significant results. Under the vision of becoming the world's leading space power by 2045, China plans to launch Chang'e 6 in 2023 to collect asteroid samples and return them a year later.

Russia is developing Luna 25, 26, and 27 in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA) to resume lunar exploration, which was halted in 1998, and plans to launch them sequentially over the next four years starting this year. It also plans to install and operate the Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS) from 2024, consisting of 3 to 7 modules capable of housing 2 to 4 astronauts.

Europe is promoting solar orbiters, Jupiter exploration, and dark matter research under the 'Cosmic Vision 2015?2025' program. Japan established the Space Operations Squadron within the Air Self-Defense Force in August last year, aiming for the safe operation of its satellites, with plans to install a space surveillance system by 2023 and launch space environment monitoring satellites by 2026. In December last year, the Hayabusa2 probe, launched in March 2014, succeeded in collecting soil samples from the asteroid Ryugu and returning them to Earth. Japan is also participating in the U.S.-led Artemis program, developing habitation platforms within the base camp and habitation modules for the lunar orbit space station.

India announced the 'Spacecom Policy 2020' last year to promote the private space development industry and actively commercialize the use of its launch vehicles. To this end, it launched the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe). India successfully launched 10 satellites from four countries, including its own communication satellite, using the PSLV-C49 launch vehicle last year, intensifying the commercialization of space launch services.

▲Apollo 4 was launched on November 9, 1967. [Photo by NASA]

South Korea: From 'Infancy' to 'Leap'

South Korea's level of space development is still at a beginner level. Compared to advanced countries that operate manned spacecraft, launch thousands of satellites, and explore the Moon and Mars, South Korea has yet to develop its own means (space launch vehicles) to transport objects or people into space. The number of satellites for commercial and military use is insufficient, and long-distance space exploration is not yet feasible. However, the government is accelerating space development, regarded as humanity's 'last stronghold,' by establishing the 'Basic Plan for Space Development Promotion' and investing substantial budgets. This is evident in the '2021 Space Development Plan' finalized on the 8th under the leadership of the Ministry of Science and ICT.

The government plans to launch 'Nuriho (KSLV-II),' the first domestically developed satellite launch vehicle, into space in October this year. This is to accumulate independent space launch vehicle technology, the most crucial step for space development. Initially, it aims to secure the capability to launch 1.5-ton low Earth orbit satellites and later develop the capability to launch 3-ton geostationary satellites.

To this end, from 2010 to next year, a total of 1.9572 trillion KRW has been invested to develop Nuriho, a low Earth orbit space launch vehicle. Partial engine test launches succeeded in 2018, and last year, achievements included the successful integrated combustion test of the Korean launch vehicle's third stage, assembly and testing of the first stage certification model, and currently, the production of the first flight model has begun. Nuriho is a three-stage liquid rocket with a payload capacity of 1,500 kg and a length of 47.2 meters. The first stage consists of four 75-ton liquid engines, the second stage has one 75-ton engine, and the third stage has one 7-ton engine. The launch, initially scheduled for this month, has been postponed.

Projects to develop and utilize various advanced satellites are also being actively promoted. The first next-generation medium-sized satellite will be launched in March from Kazakhstan using a Russian Soyuz launch vehicle. Jointly developed by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to meet public demand and foster related industries, it will be used in various fields such as ground observation, change detection, urban planning, and map-making. Using a 500 kg standard platform, satellites for various purposes will be developed; currently, satellites 1, 2, and 4 are under development, and satellites 3 and 5 will begin development this year and next year, respectively.

Development of Cheollihan 3 will also begin in earnest. It is being developed for disaster and safety response, including monitoring flood and drought damage, supporting maritime patrol activities, providing emergency communication support in disaster areas, offering GPS correction signals, and serving as a testbed for future satellite communication technologies. Additionally, multipurpose practical satellites 6 and 7, developed to provide various public services such as national security through all-weather ground observation, are entering final assembly and functional testing, aiming for launch in 2022.

Alongside this, military satellite development is underway, including ultra-small satellite cluster systems for military use, a second-phase military satellite communication system, reconnaissance satellites for strategic target surveillance, and ultra-small satellite systems.

South Korea's own space exploration is also beginning. The country's first 'lunar exploration orbiter' using a Korean launch vehicle is being developed with a target launch in 2022. This year, payloads for various missions such as lunar surface imaging will be assembled with the orbiter, and the total assembly test of the lunar orbiter system will be conducted. To observe the space environment and use it as basic research for understanding space weather and responding to space disasters, four 10 kg nano-satellites will be launched in the second half of this year under the leadership of the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute. Like the first next-generation medium-sized satellite, they will be launched from Kazakhstan using a Russian Soyuz launch vehicle.

South Korea is also building the Korean Positioning System (KPS), which can replace the regionally dependent U.S. GPS, to provide essential location, navigation, and timing information for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and national infrastructure operations, including autonomous vehicles and drones. After securing the budget in the first half of this year, full-scale development will begin next year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.