Aiming to Become Powerhouse in Aerospace Sector
With testing of the engine for Korea Space Launch Vehicle-II (KSLV-II) slated for late this month, the South Korean government has begun to draw up plans to develop a next-generation satellite launch vehicle that will succeed KSLV-II.
The government is going to develop an improved and lighter version of KSLV-II, while at the same time developing another version which is smaller and cheaper than KSLV-II.
The development of KSLV-II is scheduled to be completed in 2021. The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) are going to come up with a blueprint for the new launch vehicle, which will carry a 1.5 ton satellite, within this year. In addition, they will work on a launch vehicle for a 500 kg satellite.
KSLV-II is planned to be launched twice in 2021 and once in 2022, 2023 and 2024 each. The vehicle is heavier than the satellite it carries and still needs to be improved in terms of direction change and other aspects. The next-generation launch vehicle project is likely to continue for eight to 10 years from 2021. The initial launch of the next-generation vehicle is expected to be carried out in 2025 or later.
When it comes to a smaller and cheaper launch vehicle, the development period is from 2025 to 2030. The purpose of this project is to launch a small satellite with a weight of 500 kg or less.
In the meantime, the South Korean government is planning to expand the application of satellites from special purposes such as precision monitoring to disaster prevention, environmental management and everyday life purposes. To this end, it is going to put into operation two small, four mid-size, about 10 very small, and two multipurpose satellites by 2022. It plans to help the related domestic industries lead satellite development in its place. Scheduled to be launched by 2030 are two small, 21 mid-size, three multipurpose and 20 very small satellites. Two communication, ocean and meteorological satellites (COMS) will be launched in 2030 or earlier, too.
At present, only nine countries and regions are capable of independently launching a satellite, including Russia, the United States, Europe, China, Japan, India, Israel, Iran and North Korea. The last three are incapable of independently launching an application satellite with a weight of one ton or more. Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia and Turkey are currently working on launch vehicles to launch satellites with a weight of 500 kg or less.