South Korea aims to establish a permanent moon base by 2045, according to a newly released long-term exploration roadmap. The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) has outlined five core missions, including lunar exploration and resource extraction. The nation plans to develop homegrown technology for lunar landing and roving, as well as the ability to extract water ice from the moon.
South Korea’s space ambitions have already gained momentum with successful launches of its first moon probe, Danuri, in 2022. The spacecraft has been studying the moon since reaching lunar orbit four months later. While officials had previously aimed to put a robotic lander on the moon by 2032, the new roadmap sets an ambitious target for a more capable moon lander by 2040.
Other nations, including the United States, China, Russia, and India, also have plans for lunar outposts or bases in the next decade. South Korea’s lunar ambitions are part of a broader push to explore the solar system, with the goal of landing on Mars by 2045.
Source: https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/south-korea-wants-to-build-a-moon-base-by-2045