1704961549
Control tower to direct space development
Responsible for policy setting and industry development etc.
300 people… annual budget 700 billion
Promoting strengthening global competitiveness in space
The bill establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (KASA), which is said to be the Korean version of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), was passed by the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 9th and is expected to open in Sacheon City as early as May . It has been nine months since it was proposed as government law in April last year.
The government plans to accelerate the strengthening of competitiveness in the global space market by establishing the Aerospace Authority, which will serve as a control tower for the planning and design of large-scale projects centered on domestic and foreign private experts. ★ Related articles, pages 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8
On the afternoon of the 9th, after the Special Law of the Aeronautics and Space Administration passed the plenary session of the National Assembly, a large welcome banner was hung in front of the Gyeongnam Provincial Office./Reporter Jeon Kang-yong/
At this afternoon’s plenary session, the National Assembly approved the adoption of the Special Law Concerning the Establishment and Operation of the Space Administration Act, as well as the amendments to the Space Development Promotion Act and the Government Organization Act. Of the 298 registered members, 266 took part in the vote, with 263 voting in favor and 3 abstaining. The decree comes into force four months after its promulgation. Accordingly, the Aerospace Authority is expected to be established in Sacheon as early as May.
The passage of the Aerospace Administration Law was advanced in line with President Yoon Seok-yeol’s commitment to establish a national control tower to guide space development. It is established as an agency under the Minister of Science and ICT and overseen by the National Space Committee under the President.
The Aerospace Authority is responsible for setting cross-ministerial policies, promoting industry and international exchanges in the aerospace sector. With the Commissioner, Deputy Director and Headquarters, it begins with the Launch Vehicle Division, the Space Science and Research Division, the Satellites Division, the Advanced Aviation Division and the Aerospace Policy Division. It is largely divided into a mission organization and an agency operating organization. The mission organization handles policy, research and development (R&D), economics and international cooperation, while the agency operations organization is responsible for budget, legal affairs, personnel and communications with the public. The Korea Aerospace Administration has fewer than 300 employees and an annual budget of 700 billion won.
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute will be incorporated as institutions of the Aerospace Administration. As for the R&D function, which has been a contentious issue, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute will continue existing research, and the Korea Aerospace Administration, of which the Korea Aerospace Research Institute is an affiliated organization, will of course also conduct R&D.
The amendment to the Space Development Promotion Act elevates the Chairman of the National Space Commission from Prime Minister to President.
On that day, the National Assembly also passed an amendment to the Government Organization Act to establish the Aeronautics and Space Administration as the central administrative agency. Unlike other civil service organizations, the Aeronautics and Space Administration has made a special exception by not applying the civilian quota rate, which is limited to less than 20% by the Government Organization Act. For all positions above team leader, skilled workers from the private sector can be hired as part-time civil servants; there is no upper salary limit. President Yoon announced the establishment of the aerospace agency at the Future Space Economy Roadmap Declaration Ceremony in November 2022. The goal was to land on the Moon in 2032 and on Mars in 2045.
Meanwhile, President Yoon Seok-yeol said: “Regarding the adoption of the ‘Special Law on the Establishment and Operation of the Aerospace Administration’ at the plenary session of the National Assembly this afternoon, President Yoon Seok-yeol assessed the Republic of Korea has taken a big step towards.” a space power,” said spokeswoman Kim Soo-kyung.
Reporter Lee Sang-kwon sky@knnews.co.kr
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