Space & Satellites
South Korea Allocates 2.3 Trillion Won for Methane Reusable Rocket
South Korea’s KASA secures 2.3 trillion won to develop KSLV-III, a reusable methane rocket aiming for a 2032 lunar mission and lower launch costs.
South Korea has officially pivoted its national space strategy toward reusable launch vehicles, aiming to compete in the rapidly evolving global commercial space market. According to reporting by The Chosun Ilbo, the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) has secured a budget of approximately 2.3 trillion won (roughly $1.65 billion) to develop a next-generation launch vehicle capable of reaching the Moon by 2032.
The project, known as the Next-Generation Launch Vehicle (KSLV-III), marks a significant technological departure from the country’s existing Nuri rocket. While the Nuri relies on traditional kerosene engines and disposable stages, the new initiative prioritizes liquid methane technology and stage recovery, an approach popularized by industry leaders like SpaceX. The revised roadmap targets a drastic reduction in launch costs and aims to secure South Korea’s independent access to deep space.
The core of the KSLV-III project is the transition from kerosene (Jet A-1) to a “methalox” system, a combination of liquid methane and liquid oxygen. Industry reports indicate that methane burns significantly cleaner than kerosene, producing less soot and residue (coking) in the engine. This characteristic is critical for reusable rockets, as it minimizes the refurbishment required between flights.
According to details released regarding the project, the new vehicle will feature an 80-ton-class methane engine. The design calls for a reusable first stage, similar to the operational concept of the Falcon 9, which will return to Earth for recovery. This reusability is central to KASA’s economic goals for the program.
“The project aims to develop a rocket capable of launching a lunar lander by 2032, utilizing technology similar to SpaceX…”
, Summary of KASA project goals
Current estimates place the launch cost of the existing Nuri rocket at approximately 35 million won ($25,000) per kilogram. By transitioning to a reusable architecture, South Korea aims to reduce this figure tenfold. The program targets a launch cost of 3.5 million won ($2,500) per kilogram within a decade, with long-term ambitions to reach $1,000 per kilogram by the mid-2030s.
The development schedule is aggressive, with KASA and its industry partners aiming to bridge the technological gap with established space powers in under ten years. The timeline outlined in recent reports includes several critical milestones:
The KSLV-III is designed to lift approximately 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), roughly triple the capacity of the current Nuri vehicle. This increased payload capacity is essential for deploying constellations of commercial satellites and supporting future lunar exploration missions.
Unlike previous state-led initiatives, the KSLV-III project emphasizes a public-private partnership model to foster a domestic space ecosystem. Manufacturers Hanwha Aerospace has been selected as the System Integrator, effectively acting as the prime contractor responsible for manufacturing and operations. This role mirrors the commercial prime contractor model seen in the United States and Europe. Additionally, a consortium involving Korean Air and Hyundai Rotem will focus on developing core components. Korean Air is tasked with turbopump development, while Hyundai Rotem will handle combustion chamber and power pack testing. This collaborative approach is intended to distribute technical risk and accelerate the acquisition of critical technologies.
The decision to switch to methane is a pragmatic recognition of the “New Space” reality. Had South Korea continued with the originally planned kerosene-based evolution of the Nuri, the resulting vehicle would likely have been commercially obsolete by the time it reached the pad in 2032. In a market dominated by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and the upcoming Starship, as well as Chinese commercial entities developing methalox rockets like the Zhuque-2, expendable kerosene rockets are rapidly becoming niche vehicles.
However, the timeline remains a significant risk factor. Developing a high-performance staged-combustion methane engine from scratch is a formidable engineering challenge. While the budget increase to 2.3 trillion won provides necessary resources, the “bumpy start” involving design changes and intellectual property discussions suggests that maintaining the 2032 lunar deadline will require flawless execution from the Hanwha-led consortium.
Why is South Korea switching from kerosene to methane? What is the payload capacity of the new rocket? When will the rocket launch?
South Korea Commits 2.3 Trillion Won to Reusable Methane Rocket Program
Shift to Methane and Reusability
Cost Reduction Targets
Development Timeline and Strategic Goals
Industry Partnership Model
AirPro News Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Methane offers higher efficiency (specific impulse) and burns cleaner than kerosene. This reduces engine residue, making it the preferred fuel for reusable rockets that need to fly multiple times with minimal maintenance.
The KSLV-III is designed to carry approximately 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and about 1.8 tons to a Lunar Transfer Orbit (LTO), sufficient for a robotic lunar lander.
The first test launch is scheduled for late 2031, with a lunar landing mission targeted for 2032.
Sources
Photo Credit: Ministry of Science and ICT