South Korea to Land on Mars by 2045

South Korea plans to land on Mars by 2045, investing 100 trillion won ($72.6 billion) in space exploration. President Yoon Suk Yeol announced on Thursday during the launch of the country’s first space agency.

The Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) will spearhead the country’s “space economy,” with numerous businesses working to propel South Korea into the world’s top five space powers.

Yoon stated that KASA will usher in a new space era by nurturing experts, supporting the aerospace industry, and fostering innovative R&D. The first lunar lander is scheduled for 2032.

South Korea became the seventh country to develop an indigenous space launch vehicle and satellite technology with the successful launch of the Nuri rocket in May last year.

KASA will consolidate policy and development functions previously spread across different ministries, including the aerospace research institute responsible for the Nuri rocket. South Korea plans at least three more space launches by 2027, including military satellites.

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Yoon’s announcement underscores the increasing efforts by Asian nations to advance their space programs for practical purposes and national pride. Recently, North Korea failed to put its second military spy satellite in orbit, highlighting its space ambitions despite heavy sanctions.

South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. condemned the launch as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Meanwhile, China’s space program has achieved significant milestones, such as the Long March 5 rocket, Tiangong space station, unmanned moon probes, and the Mars rover Zhurong.

In recent developments, Japan became the fifth country to place a lander on the moon in January, and India became the fourth nation to land on the moon last year.