- Holds Public Hearing with Space Industry Companies on Private-Led Development of Reusable Launch Vehicles -
On October 29, Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), led by Administrator Yoon Youngbin, held a public hearing with domestic space launch vehicle companies at its headquarters in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province to discuss the "Preliminary Research Project for Innovative Reusable Launch Vehicle Core Technologies," set to begin in earnest next year.
The hearing was attended by KASA, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), and leading domestic space industry companies, including Hanwha Aerospace, Korea Aerospace Industries, Innospace, and Perigee Aerospace. Participants discussed the direction of the preliminary research project on innovative reusable launch vehicles and exchanged in-`depth` views.
Since its establishment on May 27, KASA has prioritized securing reusable space launch vehicle technology, reporting this policy focus to the National Space Committee. The recent epic return of SpaceX's Starship Super Heavy booster to its launch-tower on October 13 has attracted significant domestic and international interest in reusable launch vehicle technology.
This project will promote the private-led development of a methane-fueled engine, similar to Starship's. It will be conducted over three years as a R&D competition aimed at fostering a "Korean SpaceX."
Park Soon-young, Director of the Reusable Launch Vehicle Program at KASA, stated, "SpaceX maintains a remarkable lead in reusable launch vehicle technology, positioning reusable vehicles as a game-changer in the space industry. We anticipate that most launch vehicles globally will transition to reusable models by the 2030s. By leveraging Korea's advanced manufacturing capabilities, the development experience from the Nuri rocket, and the innovative idea of private companies, we can secure reusable launch vehicle technology at an early stage, allowing us to respond swiftly to this paradigm shift."
For further information, please contact the Space Transportation Directorate (Phone: +82-55-856-5151) of the Korea AeroSpace Administration.