SEOUL, Dec. 14, 2025: South Korea plans to launch a lunar communication orbiter in 2029 and a lunar lander in 2032, the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) announced during a government policy briefing on Saturday. The move marks a significant expansion of the nation’s space exploration roadmap, underscoring efforts to strengthen domestic space technology and independent mission capability. KASA Administrator Yoon Young-bin disclosed the timeline during a presentation to President Lee Jae Myung in Sejong. The announcement comes as South Korea accelerates its focus on building a sustainable presence in space following a series of successful launches of its homegrown Nuri rocket. The orbiter and lander projects are part of the agency’s broader plan to advance deep-space communication and exploration technologies.
Yoon said the 2029 mission will deploy a lunar communication orbiter using the Nuri rocket, officially known as the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-II. Last month, South Korea achieved the fourth successful launch of the Nuri vehicle, which placed 13 satellites into orbit, confirming the system’s operational stability and enhancing the country’s launch track record. According to KASA, the planned orbiter will be designed to enable reliable communication between Earth and lunar operations, particularly on the Moon’s far side where direct radio contact is not possible. The technology will form the foundation for South Korea’s 2032 mission, which aims to deploy an unmanned lunar lander. The lander project will build on the communications infrastructure established by the orbiter and further test the country’s ability to manage complex interplanetary missions.
A lunar communication orbiter functions as a relay platform that maintains continuous data transmission between mission control centers on Earth and spacecraft or rovers on the lunar surface. This capability is essential for scientific and engineering operations conducted beyond Earth’s immediate communication range. The KASA plan represents South Korea’s first direct step toward developing long-distance, deep-space data systems required for advanced exploration. To improve reliability and experience, KASA intends to continue regular rocket launches over the next several years. Yoon stated that the agency will conduct at least one Nuri launch per year through 2032 to increase the launch vehicle’s success rate to more than 90 percent. Each mission will contribute to refining propulsion performance, testing new payloads, and validating mission readiness for future interplanetary efforts.
South Korea sets timeline for lunar orbiter and lander
In addition to the lunar missions, South Korea has outlined plans to develop a reusable next-generation launch vehicle by 2035. The new system is expected to reduce mission costs and enhance competitiveness within the global launch services market. The project will follow incremental development phases under KASA’s long-term strategy to strengthen aerospace self-sufficiency and technical innovation. The administration of President Lee Jae Myung has designated space development as a strategic national priority, focusing on fostering scientific research, industrial participation, and technology transfer through government-led initiatives. The upcoming missions are expected to advance South Korea’s role in global space collaboration while expanding domestic expertise in propulsion, navigation, and communications technologies.
KASA’s structure integrates multiple space functions
The Korea AeroSpace Administration, established earlier in 2023, oversees the country’s space policy and mission coordination, integrating research efforts previously managed by various government agencies. With the 2029 and 2032 lunar missions, KASA aims to position South Korea among the nations with active lunar exploration programs, following its successful participation in the 2022 Danuri lunar orbiter project, which was jointly developed with international partners. The agency is also working to expand collaboration with global space institutions and commercial entities to strengthen technological exchange, enhance mission reliability, and foster a competitive domestic aerospace industry capable of supporting sustained exploration initiatives. – By Content Syndication Services.