South Korea’s space agency aims to develop next-gen reusable launch vehicle by 2035

The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) has announced its plans to develop a reusable space launch vehicle by 2035.

The agency has been working to modify its 2.1 trillion-won (US$1.53 billion) project for a next-generation rocket into a reusable system, according to Yonhap.

The original next-generation projectile project was meant to launch a lunar lander by 2032; however, in February, NASA announced that "the global space technology trend has changed" and "it will secure competitiveness in the space industry by developing reusable projectiles."

"All countries are developing reusable launch vehicles by around 2030. If we develop ours by 2035, we can still compete," Park Jae-sung, a director general at KASA, told reporters. "If we miss the timing, the entry barrier will be too high, and we will be out of the game."

He added that as part of the strategic shift, KASA is now focused on reusable systems and its ongoing review of the next-generation launch vehicle project.

As SpaceX dominates the market with its reusable rocket technology, others are trying to catch up, including China and European countries. US rivals include Blue Origin, and companies in China and Europe also have reusable launcher plans.

According to KASA, if the project proceeds as planned, the new vehicle could begin meeting domestic demand for space transportation starting from 2034.