KASA to Promote Private-Led Research on Reusable Launch Vehicle System Model
- Kickoff Meeting for Reusable Launch Vehicle Development Held -
The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), headed by Administrator Yoon Youngbin, announced that it held its first meeting for preliminary study on the development of reusable launcher at 2 p.m. on January 3rd in Daejeon. KASA has set 2025 as the year to mark the beginning of private-led reusable launch vehicle development.
At the first meeting of the National Space Committee held on May 30, 2024, shortly after KASA's establishment, KASA announced that it would push forward the development of reusable launch vehicles as a key policy to drastically reduce the cost of space development. Accordingly, KASA plans to develop core technology and system, and conducts studies on system development from 2025 to concretize a roadmap for the indigenous reusable launchers.
KASA has recently launched two projects to select a competitive system model. The first project, initiated in 2024, focuses on research related to the mission performance and economic feasibility of reusable launch vehicles. The second project aims to select a system model based on the commercialization model of private companies. From this kickoff meeting, the Korea Association for Space Technology Promotion will lead the related meetings.
This kickoff meeting was attended by seven experts from the government, research institutions, and universities, who engaged in in-`depth` discussions on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for selecting private-sector business models, as well as the direction of the preliminary study. Additionally, KASA plans to continuously gather diverse opinions to refine the system development approach for a private-led reusable launch vehicle.
Park Soon-young, Director of KASA's Reusable Launch Vehicle Program, stated, "To accelerate the development of a domestic, private-led reusable launch vehicle, it is crucial to identify business systems that align with the private companies' business models and to incorporate rapid innovations from the private sector." He added, "We will develop a mutually beneficial and cooperative strategy based on consensus between the public and private sectors."
For further information, please contact the Space Transportation Directorate (Phone: +82-55-856-5151) of the Korea AeroSpace Administration.