South Korea Launches New Space Agency: Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | South Korea officially launches the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA). |
| Location | Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. |
| Budget | Annual budget of 758.9 billion won ($556 million). |
| Legislation | Special law passed by the national assembly in January to unify space policy and projects. |
| Objectives | Lead South Korea's "space economy," aiming to become one of the world's top five space powers. |
| Key Responsibilities | Streamline aerospace policy, support R&D, and cultivate experts. |
| Notable Projects | First lunar lander planned for 2032, at least three more space launches by 2027. |
| Achievements | Seventh country to own indigenous space launch vehicle and satellite technology (Nuri rocket). |
| Military Plans | Launch of military satellites. |
| Neighboring Context | North Korea's failed second military spy satellite launch. |
| International Reaction | South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. condemned North Korea's launch. |
| Global Space Progress | China's Tiangong space station, Japan's moon landing, India's moon landing, Russia's failure. |
| Future Missions | Japan's planned rover mission to Mars. |