BUSAN, South Korea — South Korea’s new space agency, less than two months old, is laying out ambitious goals in spaceflight as part of its efforts to serve as a “control tower” for the county’s growing space presence. The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) 45 th Scientific Assembly held here served as one of the first opportunities for the Korea Aerospace Administration, or KASA, to tell an international audience about its plans to coordinate and expand space activities in the country. KASA started operations on May 27.
“This year marks a significant milestone in the history of Korea’s space development with the establishment of KASA,” said Youngbin Yoon, administrator of KASA, at the opening ceremonies of the conference July 15. There have been space activities in other research centers and universities in the country for decades, but no single agency in charge of civil space activities. “In response to public opinion and recognizing the need for a dedicated government agency, Korea Aerospace Administration, KASA, was officially established,” he said.
The agency, he said, “serves as the control tower for national space affairs and international cooperation,” with the goal of creating an aerospace economy in South Korea. That work will be focused on space transportation, satellite, space exploration and aviation. KASA has long-term goals, he added, of sending a robotic lander to the moon in 2032 and another to Mars in 2045.
In a separate address at t.