South Korea Sets 2035 Goal for Hundreds of Low-Earth Orbit Satellites and 2030 Lunar Lander Mission

South Korea plans to build a low-Earth orbit satellite communications network of 128 to 512 satellites by 2035 and move its first lunar landing forward to 2030, the Korea AeroSpace Administration said on July 3. The Korea AeroSpace Administration presented the strategy at a public briefing in Jinju. The National Space Council, chaired by President Lee Jae Myung, approved the plan the same day.

KASA said the network will support domestic satellite and launch vehicle development while serving national security and future 6G needs. Construction costs are estimated at a minimum of 4 trillion won ($2.62 billion) and up to 13.2 trillion won every five years. The government will form a special purpose company with private firms to commercialize satellite data.

Private investors will hold more than 70 percent of the company, which is projected to reach over $1.7 billion in sales by 2034. KASA also moved the lunar landing target two years earlier than previously scheduled. A privately developed small lander will fly on the three-stage Nuri rocket in 2030 rather than waiting for a next-generation vehicle planned for 2032.

Additional missions include a lunar communications orbiter in 2029 and an Earth-moon scientific exploration probe in 2031. "Leading space nations are making all-out efforts to build low-Earth orbit satellite communications networks, which are critical infrastructure for safeguarding national security and communications sovereignty, as well as a strategic foundation for the 6G era," KASA Administrator Oh Tae-seok said at the briefing.