Incheon Opens 'Future Space Exploration and Technology Research Center'... Incheon City and Inha University Foster Space Industry

Inauguration Ceremony of the Future Space Exploration and Space Resource Utilization Technology Research Center [Provided by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City and Inha University are joining hands with local industry, academia, and research institutes to develop core technologies for the space industry and cultivate specialized personnel.

On the 25th, Incheon City held an opening ceremony for the Future Space Exploration and Space Resource Utilization Technology Research Center at the Aerospace Industry-Academia Convergence Center in Songdo-dong, Yeonsu-gu.

The space-related research and education conducted at the center involves 23 local industry-academia-research organizations, including Inha University, Incheon National University, State University of New York, Korea Polar Research Institute, and Korea Institute of Industrial Technology.

The center plans to research and develop world-class core space technologies such as autonomous precision celestial navigation technology necessary for lunar polar exploration, lunar exploration rovers for mining water resources buried on the moon, and water electrolysis thrusters for recovering mined resources.

Additionally, through specialized track-type education, field training, and international cooperation programs related to space development, the center will cultivate a total of 225 master's and doctoral level experts, with 45 individuals trained annually.

Previously, this project was selected through a public competition by the Ministry of Science and ICT, with a consortium including the city and Inha University leading the initiative. A total of 11.8 billion KRW will be invested by 2026, including national and city funds as well as Inha University's own support funds.

An official from Incheon City stated, "We expect the Future Space Education Center to play a major role in the development of the domestic space industry," adding, "We plan to foster the space industry alongside the aviation industry so that it can grow into a future new growth industry leading Incheon."

Resource Utilization Scenarios for Lunar and Martian Resource Extraction [Provided by Incheon City]

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