Korea-UAE Expand Cooperation in Space Sector... Including Exploration and Launch Services

Expansion of Cooperation Areas Including Space Exploration, Earth Observation, and Launch Services

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] The government has decided to expand cooperation with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the space sector from the existing technology sharing to include space exploration and launch services.

On the 15th, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that it signed an agreement to amend the "Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation in Space Exploration and Utilization" with the UAE Space Agency. Previously, the two agencies signed an MOU in 2017 for exchanging opinions on space science, technology, and utilization, space policy, law, and regulation, as well as workforce development in space and related fields.

This agreement was prepared to expand bilateral cooperation for realizing the space economy, following the recent announcement of the Future Space Economy Roadmap and the establishment of the 4th Basic Plan for Space Development Promotion.

The amendment expands the existing MOU by adding areas beyond the previous scope of space science, technology and utilization, space policy, law, regulation exchange, and workforce development in space and related fields, including ▲peaceful space exploration ▲satellite communication ▲satellite navigation ▲earth observation ▲space science and technology experiments and verification ▲space data exchange ▲ground station utilization ▲launch and launch services ▲space situational awareness and space traffic management.

Cooperation between Korea and the UAE in space development has been actively pursued since the mid-2000s in satellite development and education. The domestic satellite development company, Satrec Initiative, developed the UAE’s first satellites, DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2 (December 2009), and KAIST provided education and training to UAE researchers dispatched to Satrec Initiative.

Recently, both countries became signatories to the Artemis Accords and have achieved significant successes in space exploration, including the UAE’s "Amal" Mars probe and Korea’s "Danuri" lunar probe.

Currently, the UAE’s Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) plans to send a large lunar exploration rover (30kg) to the moon in 2026, with a payload from the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute being considered as a candidate. Discussions are underway with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute to cooperate on space traffic management in preparation for the space economy era.

Minister of Science and ICT Lee Jong-ho said, "Despite its short history, I was impressed by the remarkably rapid development of the UAE’s space sector," and added, "Since both countries have clear characteristics and strengths in space development, I hope that through the amendment of the MOU, the two countries will develop into strategic partners for realizing the space economy."

Meanwhile, Minister Lee, currently on a business trip to the UAE, plans to visit the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), a space development research institution in Dubai, to tour the research facilities and discuss ways to activate cooperation between Korean research institutions and MBRSC during his visit.

Additionally, on the evening of the 17th, a meeting will be held with ICT (Information and Communication Technology) businesspeople who have entered or wish to enter the UAE market to share their experiences and plans for market entry. The minister plans to listen to their suggestions and encourage the entrepreneurs.

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