Korean-Type Launch Vehicle Must 'Break Shackles' and 'Shed Skin' to Truly Soar [Reading Science]

Urgent Need to Secure Competitiveness Through Rapid Performance Improvement
Must Lift the Shackles of US-Imposed 'Export Control Policy' to Enter the Space Launch Vehicle Market

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The Korean-type space launch vehicle ‘Nuriho’ is a stepping stone for Korea’s ‘space independence.’ Despite many limitations, it is evaluated as absolutely necessary for Korea’s independent space development, protection of national interests, and improvement of citizens’ quality of life.

◇Limitations of Nuriho

Currently, the Korean-type launch vehicle cannot enter the space launch market due to the United States. Specifically, under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and export control policies (ITAR) led by the U.S., satellites equipped on Korean launch vehicles cannot use high-performance American-made components. This applies not only to domestically developed Korean satellites but also to satellites from other countries. Additionally, in terms of performance and reliability, it is still at the level of an unproven newborn.

On the other hand, private companies such as SpaceX are developing reusable, high-performance, high-efficiency, and eco-friendly space launch vehicles, with the cost per launch expected to soon fall to the $20 million range. NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), China, Japan, and others are developing super-large rockets for deep space exploration in preparation for lunar resource development, Mars exploration, and space solar power generation. Nuriho is only capable of placing one 1.5-ton medium satellite into an altitude of 700 km. If left as is, Nuriho could remain forever ‘stored in a warehouse.’

◇Changing the ‘Space Development’ Framework

To overcome these limitations, the next launch vehicle project must be accelerated and diplomatic efforts made to remove the ‘shackles.’ Experts particularly point out the limitations of the space development policy conducted by the Ministry of Science and ICT at the R&D level. Policies change every election cycle without continuity, and large projects require preliminary feasibility studies that take a long time. After just one or two years, officials change, causing serious conflicts between administrative and technical organizations. Ultimately, it is necessary to shift the framework by placing the National Space Committee directly under the president or establishing a specialized organization such as a Space Agency to take charge of planning and budgeting, while gradually delegating production and development tasks to the private sector.

Professor Heo Hwan-il of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Chungnam National University said, “It took 12 years each to develop Naroho and Nuriho, but at the current stage where competition with other countries has intensified, it is difficult to guarantee economic feasibility,” and added, “In the short term, we need to concentrate the budget and change space governance to complete development early.” Honorary Research Fellow Lee Chun-geun of the Science and Technology Policy Institute also said, “China has about 300,000 space development personnel, and even Japan has about 10,000. Our Korea Aerospace Research Institute has fewer than 1,000 employees, and excluding aviation, only a few hundred are in space. We need to reorganize the system to concentrate national capabilities and take on challenges.”

There are also calls for government-level efforts regarding the export control policies the U.S. applies to Korean-type space launch vehicles. Professor Heo advised, “With private companies like SpaceX advancing, there is now some room for Korea. We need to resolve this through international space development cooperation such as the Artemis project and the Lunar Gateway construction.”