Over 60 Experts Gather for the "Lunar and Planetary Exploration Convergence Workshop"
The Korea Aerospace Administration brought together experts in science, technology, and social sciences to discuss future strategies for lunar and planetary exploration.
On November 19-20, the agency announced that it held the "Lunar and Planetary Exploration Science, Technology, and Social Science Convergence Workshop" at Hotel Interciti in Daejeon, where participants shared mid- to long-term exploration visions and discussed directions for building a space economy ecosystem.
More than 60 participants attended the event, including representatives from the Korea Polar Research Institute, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, as well as academics from Seoul National University, KAIST, Kyung Hee University, and others. The goal was to address not only technological development but also the social acceptance and economic significance of space exploration.
The experts shared the current status of scientific research and technological development needed for lunar and Mars exploration, and discussed industrial and societal challenges related to building space infrastructure.
Presentations at the workshop covered the Korea Aerospace Administration's exploration plans, the revitalization of the space economy, research achievements in lunar and planetary studies, and the current status of infrastructure technology development. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) introduced the latest exploration robotics and instrumentation technologies, as well as the U.S. approach to exploration operations, through an online lecture.
Korean experts presented on lunar and Mars surface analysis, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), rover and mobility technologies, and exploration infrastructure strategies. They also emphasized the need to consider economic and social factors alongside technological development.
Based on these discussions, the Korea Aerospace Administration plans to further develop not only exploration technologies but also a sustainable space economy strategy. There was a consensus among experts that social science perspectives-such as cost structures, industrial ecosystems, and international cooperation-are essential.
Kang Kyungin, Director of the Space Science Exploration Division at the Korea Aerospace Administration, stated, "This was a venue for collaboration where science, technology, and social values converged," adding, "We will continue to create opportunities for experts from various fields to engage in discussions together."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
