The 45th Scientific Assembly of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) commenced on Monday in Busan, South Korea, marking the first time the country has hosted this biennial global conference. The event aims to foster international scientific research in space and has attracted around 3,000 space scientists and industry officials from 60 nations, according to the Korea Aero Space Administration (KASA), as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Notable attendees include Pam Melroy, deputy administrator of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Hitoshi Kuninaka, director general of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Institute of Space and Astronautical Science.
During the opening ceremony, Yoon Young-bin, head of KASA, emphasized South Korea’s commitment to investing in innovative space research projects to expand its capabilities in space exploration and contribute to peaceful international space cooperation. “Many Korean companies have the potential to compete in the global space market, and KASA plans to provide substantial support to help private industry lead space development,” Yoon stated.
Pascale Ehrenfreund, president of COSPAR, praised South Korea’s “ambitious” plans for space and acknowledged the country as a “strong partner” in space research. She also welcomed the establishment of KASA, which was launched in May to bolster the growth of South Korea’s space industry, anticipating stronger support for local space ventures and activities.
On the sidelines of the conference, KASA engaged in bilateral meetings with its counterparts from the United States, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, China, and other countries to expand its global network and explore new joint research projects. A special exhibit showcased Korean space companies, including the Korea Astronomy & Space Science Institute, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, and Korea Aerospace Industries.
Boryung Corp., a Korean healthcare and space company, presented its plan to invest in space healthcare solutions for human space travelers. The company formed a joint venture with US space station developer Axiom Space last year as part of its initiative to develop space infrastructure.
Korea Aerospace Industries unveiled a mock-up of its space vehicle designed to explore L4, one of the five Lagrange points located about 380,000 kilometers from Earth. These points are positions in space where the gravitational forces of a two-body system, such as the sun and Earth, create areas of stability, allowing spacecraft to conduct exploration missions with minimal fuel consumption. L4 exploration is one of the projects KASA aims to prioritize, along with the development of reusable space rockets and the exploration of the moon and Mars.
The conference underscores South Korea’s growing role in the global space sector and its dedication to advancing space research and industry collaboration.
