South Korea to Inject 316bn Won into Space Programme

Seoul, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) – South Korea plans to inject 316.4 billion won (US$337.2 million) into its space programme this year, the government said Wednesday.

The Ministry of Science and Technology said the plan calls for 126.6 billion won to be allocated to the development of three multipurpose satellites that can take detailed pictures of the earth from space, and 70.7 billion to build fixed-orbit communications and weather observation satellites.

After having launched the Arirang 2 multipurpose satellite in July 2006, Seoul is aiming to launch the Arirang 3, which will carry a camera with resolution of 0.7 meters, the Arirang 3A which can take infra-red images of the earth and the Arirang 5, capable of compiling radar images.

It added that 201.2 billion won is to be earmarked for advanced research and development of future satellites.

The ministry also said money is to be allocated for the completion of the Naro Space Centre in South Jeolla Province and the building and launching of the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV- 1).

The KSLV-1 is scheduled to take into orbit a satellite that is to be launched inside the country in December.

After having entered the space-race later than most other countries, South Korea has made concerted efforts to catch up, and plans to send its first citizen into space in early April. It announced a long-term programme last year to send a unmanned probe to the moon by 2020.