– KASA and NASA Sign Joint Statement of Intent (JSI) for Cooperation on Moon Base Construction
– Discussions Accelerated on Key Technology Areas Including Lunar Landers, Lunar Communications and Navigation, and Rovers
The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA, Administrator Taeseog Oh) announced that it held the “KASA-NASA Artemis Workshop” with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Seoul on July 30 (Thu) to discuss concrete cooperation measures for the NASA-led Moon Base construction and operation.
The workshop served as an opportunity to further strengthen practical cooperation between the two countries, with Carlos Garcia-Galan, who oversees NASA’s Moon Base construction initiatives, attending the event in person.
At the workshop, the two organizations further strengthened cooperation in lunar exploration by signing a “Joint Statement of Intent (JSI),” outlining their commitment to combine KASA’s capabilities with NASA-led efforts to establish a sustainable and permanent Moon Base, which will be a foundation for future deep space exploration.
The two organizations previously signed a Joint Statement in September 2024 to establish the basic direction for bilateral space cooperation, followed by the Artemis Study Agreement in October of the same year, which laid the foundation for joint research.
Amid this close cooperation, the workshop provided an opportunity for both organizations to engage in in-depth discussions on potential areas of Korean contributions to the Moon Base construction. Detailed technical specifications and specific scopes of cooperation will be finalized through future discussions.
Meanwhile, on July 29 (Wed), the day before the workshop, Carlos Garcia-Galan of NASA delivered a special public lecture for Korea’s space science community and the general public, sharing NASA’s Moon Base construction plans.
KASA Administrator Taeseog Oh emphasized, “The signing of this Joint Statement of Intent marks a milestone demonstrating Korea’s commitment to establishing a sustainable and permanent human presence on the Moon,” adding, “Building on the core technological capabilities we have accumulated thus far, we will work together with NASA to further develop concrete plans for the construction of a lunar base.”