Ministry of Science and ICT Hosts Joint Opening Event with National Science Museum and Korea Aerospace Research Institute
Naro Space Center, the cradle of Korea's space development, is opening its doors wide to the public.
Naro Space Center in Goheung-gun, South Korea, is a historic site where the Korean launch vehicle 'Nuriho,' completed with domestic technology for the first time in Korea in 2021, made its maiden launch. Over the past decade, the global space industry has more than doubled in size, and we have entered an era where civilians are beginning space tourism. South Korea is not behind. Starting with the launch of 'Nuriho,' the performance of subsequent launch vehicles will be further advanced, and South Korea will achieve challenging space exploration goals such as the 2030 lunar lander mission. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju, Goheung
On the 24th, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that it will operate a Naro Space Center tour program in collaboration with affiliated national science museums and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute to increase public interest and support for space development. The program was created to share the joy of the successful Nuri rocket launch and to activate the entry of talented individuals into the science and technology fields from various angles by opening the Naro Space Center, the launch site of the Nuri rocket, to the private sector.
In particular, this is an unmissable opportunity to directly see Nuri rocket launch-related facilities such as the launch control building, storage building, and launch pad at Naro Space Center, which is usually off-limits to the general public. Unlike previous tour programs that mainly targeted schools or youth groups, this program diversifies participants to include parents, science competition winners, and vulnerable groups.
The first program will be launched by the Gwacheon National Science Museum. On November 2-3, participants will explore various parts of the Naro Space Center and have a chance to listen to lectures by renowned researchers from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. For youth, there will be an opportunity to meet emerging researchers who serve as role models for the near future and directly ask questions about career paths. For parents, there will be sessions introducing the latest educational concepts (such as scientific literacy and metacognition) that can help with their children's career education.
The National Science Museum will operate a science dream tree career camp linked to the awards ceremony of the 44th National Student Science Invention Competition hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT on November 26. Forty awardees will be selected to tour the Naro Space Center the day before, participate in career mentoring with KAIST students as mentors on the day of the event, and then attend the awards ceremony in the afternoon.
The Gwangju National Science Museum will run a two-day, one-night "Space Exploration Science Camp" on October 28-29, focusing on "rockets," the core of space science technology. To enhance youth interest and imagination about space, the first day will start with a space science exploration mission activity followed by observing a partial lunar eclipse space show using the 1.2m reflecting telescope at the Starlight Observatory. On the second day, participants will visit the Naro Space Center, which is usually off-limits to the public, tour space development-related facilities, explore space career paths, and attend expert lectures from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute.
The Daegu National Science Museum will also operate a two-day, one-night Naro Space Center tour program linked with a visit to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) on November 11-12. On the first day, participants will tour the Naro Space Center facilities, attend lectures, and visit the space science museum. On the second day, they will visit KAI in Sacheon City to explore aircraft and satellites. After returning to the Daegu Science Museum, they will participate in a hands-on program to create and launch their own powder rockets, sending their dreams toward space.
The Busan National Science Museum will hold a family-style two-day, one-night career camp called "Science Nadeul-e: Space Science Edition" on November 18-19. Priority will be given to vulnerable groups such as single-parent and multicultural families. In addition to touring the Naro Space Center, participants will enjoy side events that the whole family can participate in, such as the space family mission challenge and a can satellite ground station program for parents and children.
Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT said, "We will work harder to help the public create passionate networking opportunities with researchers on-site and discover future science and technology talents."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
