제2우주센터 공모에 전남광주·제주 응모…10월 결정

Two Korean provinces, Gwangju in the south and Jeju in the southeast, have applied to build the second space center in South Korea, the National Aerospace Agency (KARI) announced on September 9th. The agency will make the final decision on the location in mid-October after evaluating the basic requirements and overall conditions of the proposed sites.

The second space center project aims to expand the country's space launch capabilities to meet the growing demand for satellite launches and expand the operation of reusable launch vehicles. The initial site selection process considered factors such as the minimum area (around 170,000 square meters), the safety radius, launch orbit, terrain conditions, weather conditions, and road network.

South Korea currently only has one space center, Naro, which was commissioned in 2009 and has limited capacity for civilian and small/ solid rocket launches. To foster a new 'New Space' ecosystem for private and small/ solid rocket launches, KARI emphasized the need to secure infrastructure for reusable launch vehicles and high-frequency satellite launches.

While expanding the Naro center could help, it would have limitations in terms of launch direction, safety zones, and support facilities. The second space center will include facilities necessary for reusable launch vehicles, such as launch pads and landing sites. The agency will evaluate the proposed sites based on their ability to meet the basic requirements, launch operation feasibility, infrastructure for launch preparations, and social and environmental conditions.

KARI Director Jeong Eui-seok stated, "The second space center will become a key national space launch infrastructure in the new space era," adding, "We will strive to select the optimal site through a fair and transparent process."