The South Korean government will soon announce the main contractor for its next-generation rocket, which is intended to carry the country’s first lunar lander.
The Public Procurement Service revealed a bid for the project on Dec. 21, 2023, bringing to light the previously secretive details of the next-generation rocket development project, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). The announcement will be made after the Lunar New Year holiday in February of this year.
This new rocket will be an advanced version of the existing Korean Space Launch Vehicle, Nuri, with significantly enhanced payload capabilities.
It is slated to play a pivotal role in various national space development policies, including the launch of large low-Earth orbit satellites, geostationary satellites, and lunar landers. The plan includes a first launch in 2030, a second in 2031, and a third in 2032 carrying the lunar lander, with a total project cost of 2.1 trillion won($1.6 billion).
The selected main contractor will lead the development of the launch vehicle in collaboration with KARI. This initiative is a key part of the government’s ‘NewSpace’ strategy, which aims to drive space development through private-sector involvement. The selection process is being closely watched as it is seen as crucial in establishing S. Korea version of SpaceX.
