South Korea reveals plans for lunar rover

Nature : The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) in Daejeon will lead a project to develop a 10- to 20-kg lunar rover. The goal, set by South Korean president Park Geun-hye, is to launch the rover by 2020 at an estimated cost of 700 billion won ($655 million). The rover would be carried aboard an unmanned module launched by a Korea Space Launch Vehicle-2 rocket. On the surface of the Moon, it would search for signs of rare minerals in the crust. Additionally, a module orbiting 100 km overhead would observe the area of exploration. Park has made developing South Korea’s aeronautical and space industries a priority of his presidency. In January, South Korea successfully launched its first rocket into space. Ju Gwang-Hyeok, leader of KARI’s lunar development, hopes that a partnership with NASA will help the country meet the 2020 launch target.