The development project for the next-generation launch vehicle, which will be the mainstay of Korea's space development, is undergoing a major overhaul. The existing design will be extensively modified, with a shift toward using reusable methane engines. Administrator Yoon Young-bin noted, "This is a decision made considering economic feasibility."
On the afternoon of the 25th, the Korea Aerospace Administration held the 3rd National Space Council meeting, chaired by Bang Hyo-chung, a professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). While President Yoon Suk-yeol is the chairperson of the council, due to his work suspension, Vice Chair Bang conducted the meeting that day.
During the meeting, the Space Council discussed seven agenda items, including strategies for space transportation, artificial satellites, and space scientific exploration, plans for improving the next-generation launch vehicle project, development plans for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-5, plans for low Earth orbit satellite communication technology development, and the basic direction for the construction of the Korea Aerospace Administration headquarters.
The most attention-grabbing item was the change in the plan for the next-generation launch vehicle project. The next-generation launch vehicle development project aims to develop a new primary space launch vehicle that delivers over three times the performance of the Korean launch vehicle Nuri with an investment of 2.1 trillion won. The next-generation launch vehicle will also be responsible for sending a lander to the moon in 2032.
Although the next-generation launch vehicle project began in earnest last year after undergoing a preliminary feasibility study focusing on economic viability, it concluded during the design review process that the current performance was insufficient for sending a lunar lander. The Korea Aerospace Administration and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) examined options for enhancing the performance of the next-generation launch vehicle engine, and recently pivoted to completely abandon the existing design in favor of developing a reusable launch vehicle.
Administrator Yoon said, "We have pondered whether the next-generation launch vehicle possesses economic viability," adding, "In a situation where reusable launch vehicles account for 80% of the global commercial launch vehicle market, we have determined that we must develop an economically viable launch vehicle and changed our plans." The Falcon 9 rocket, which is the mainstay of SpaceX in the U.S., and the Starship, which is under development for lunar and Mars exploration, are all reusable launch vehicles.
The Korea Aerospace Administration will now enter the administrative procedures to change the next-generation launch vehicle development project plan. It plans to revise the project plan after undergoing specific evaluations by the Ministry of Science and ICT and a review of appropriateness by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance. The Korea Aerospace Administration intends to develop a reusable launch vehicle using a methane engine.
With the fundamental changes to the next-generation launch vehicle development project, changes in the role of Hanwha Aerospace, the private system integrator, have also become inevitable. Hanwha Aerospace has agreed to transition to a reusable launch vehicle and has reportedly informed the Korea Aerospace Administration of its intention to continue participating in the project.
However, depending on the scale of the change in the project plan, Hanwha Aerospace may not retain the project and a new contractor could be selected. Administrator Yoon stated, "Once the proposal is finalized following administrative procedures, we will consider whether Hanwha Aerospace will continue to manage the project or if other corporations will join from the original position."
The Korea Aerospace Administration has also announced that it will begin developing an Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) and a 10 cm-class ultra-high-resolution satellite. The Orbital Transfer Vehicle is a spacecraft responsible for transportation in space. It performs various missions such as transporting satellites and cargo between orbits, space debris management, and in-space refueling. The Korea Aerospace Administration believes that an independent orbital transfer vehicle is necessary to participate in the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) market promoted by the U.S. and plans to develop it by 2030.
The 10 cm-class satellite has capabilities comparable to military satellites currently operated by the U.S. The Korea Aerospace Administration stated, "Next-generation electro-optical and radar observation satellites are needed for national demands such as geographic information acquisition and disaster and environmental monitoring." The plan is to complete development by 2036. It will also begin developing a multilayer orbital navigation system to bolster the low Earth orbit satellite system and satellite navigation system.
The development project for the lunar lander, aimed at 2032, and the establishment project for the L4 Lagrange point solar observation station will also be pushed forward. The Lagrange point refers to a location where the gravitational forces of the sun and the earth are balanced, maintaining a stable position. Administrator Yoon explained, "We plan to secure space scientific exploration capabilities through staged verification from the moon and expand the exploration area to Mars."