The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of South Korea has officially launched a project aimed at developing key components for lunar drives. This initiative, which involves an agreement with 13 organizations including Hyundai Motors Co., will see a total investment of 23 billion won (approximately 16.6 million US dollars).
As part of the state program, the project aims to create around 10 crucial components for lunar drives, which includes engines and robotic manipulators. The focus will be on ensuring these components can operate effectively in extreme conditions characterized by low temperatures and high levels of radiation.
Lee Rool, the Deputy Minister of Industrial Policy, highlighted that South Korea possesses significant potential in the space industry due to its advanced technologies in automotive, robotics, and information and communication systems. The Ministry is committed to supporting the development of domestic technologies for producing essential materials, parts, and equipment in the space, aviation, and defense sectors.
Several of South Korea’s Asian neighbors already have established programs for creating lunar drives. China, for instance, has successfully deployed two lunar rovers on the moon and a rover on Mars. Moreover, there are ongoing discussions within the Chinese space program regarding the creation of a manned lunar rover to accompany plans to send astronauts to the moon before the decade concludes.
Meanwhile, the Japanese Aerospace Research Agency (JAXA) is collaborating with Toyota and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to design a hermetic lunar rover for the NASA Artemis mission. This collaboration will give Japan the opportunity to send an astronaut to the moon, and the resulting vehicle, named Lunar Cruiser, will serve as a mobile base for astronauts during lunar surface exploration, enabling stays of up to 30 days.
South Korea’s entrance into this space race comes at a time of heightened global competition in lunar exploration, emphasizing the country’s commitment to advancing its capabilities in this increasingly competitive sector.