SEOUL—In a move to bolster space exploration collaboration, senior officials from South Korea and the United States have engaged in discussions about expanding their cooperative efforts. First Vice Science Minister Cho Seong-kyung of South Korea met with Pam Melroy, the deputy administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), during her visit to the U.S. last week.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the discussions focused on measures to enhance space cooperation between the two nations. The ministry highlighted agreements to explore the application of South Korea's advances in mobility, secondary battery technology, 5G networks, autonomous driving, and nuclear technologies in space exploration projects. These projects include the development of a moon crawler and the construction of a lunar communications network. Cho and Melroy also agreed to identify practical research items that would facilitate South Korea's participation in the U.S.'s Artemis moon exploration program. This collaboration comes as South Korea prepares to launch its independent space agency, the Korea AeroSpace Administration, in May.