Overview
KASA (Korea AeroSpace Administration) is South Korea's national space agency, established on 27 May 2024 and headquartered in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province. Often described as "South Korea's NASA", it consolidated national space policy, programmes and industry promotion under one roof — with the long-standing KARI research institute (founded 1989) and the KASI astronomy institute now operating under its direction.
South Korea achieved independent orbital launch capability in 2022 with the second flight of the domestically developed Nuri (KSLV-II) rocket, and its Danuri orbiter has been studying the Moon since December 2022. KASA's roadmap targets a robotic lunar landing around 2032, a next-generation launcher developed with industry lead Hanwha Aerospace, participation in NASA's Artemis programme and, further out, Mars ambitions for the 2040s.
Quick Facts
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Korea AeroSpace Administration |
| Abbreviation | KASA |
| Country | South Korea |
| Headquarters | Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province |
| Founded | 27 May 2024 (KARI heritage since 1989) |
| Head | Yoon Young-bin (Administrator) |
| Budget | ~$0.7B (2025) |
| Research Institute | KARI — Korea Aerospace Research Institute (operates under KASA) |
| Crewed Capability | No (astronauts fly on partner vehicles) |
| Website | www.kasa.go.kr |
KASA and KARI: who does what?
KASA did not replace KARI — it sits above it. KASA is the government administration that sets policy, budgets and international partnerships; KARI remains the engineering powerhouse that develops the Nuri rocket, South Korea's satellites and the Danuri lunar orbiter, now as a research institute under KASA's direction. If you are looking for the agency formerly profiled here as KARI, this is its successor page.
Key Programmes
Nuri (KSLV-II)
South Korea's indigenous orbital launch vehicle — the rocket that made South Korea the seventh country to orbit a satellite of more than one tonne on its own launcher. Four flights since 2022, with the fourth mission in late 2025 the first led by industry partner Hanwha Aerospace. Capable of delivering 1.5 tonnes to 700 km sun-synchronous orbit from the Naro Space Center.
Danuri Lunar Orbiter
The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter — South Korea's first deep-space mission, studying lunar resources and terrain from orbit since December 2022 and scouting landing sites for the 2032 robotic lander.
Korea Positioning System (KPS)
A planned regional navigation constellation of 7 satellites providing independent, GPS-augmenting positioning over the Korean Peninsula — South Korea's answer to Japan's QZSS.
Next-Generation Launcher (KSLV-III)
KASA's follow-on launcher programme, developed with Hanwha Aerospace as system integrator, sized for the 2032 lunar lander mission and designed to lift roughly ten times Nuri's payload to low Earth orbit.
Lunar Landing 2032
A robotic lunar landing around 2032 is the anchor goal of KASA's exploration roadmap, building on Danuri — with a stated national ambition of a Mars landing by 2045.
Launch Infrastructure
KASA launches from:
| Spaceport | Role |
|---|---|
| Naro Space Center | South Korea's launch site on Oenaro Island, South Jeolla Province |
Launch Vehicles
| Vehicle | Role |
|---|---|
| Nuri (KSLV-II) | Indigenous orbital launcher |
| KSLV-III | Next-generation launcher (in development) |