Thu Sep 26 15:00:50 UTC 2024: ## NASA and South Korea’s Space Agency to Collaborate on Pioneering Mission to Unexplored Region of Space
**Washington D.C. -** NASA and the Republic of Korea’s newly created Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) have signed a joint statement committing to deeper cooperation in space exploration, science, and aeronautics. This includes collaboration on a groundbreaking mission to the sun-Earth Lagrange Point 4 (L4), a previously unexplored gravitationally stable region in space.
The agreement, signed on September 19th, marks a significant step forward in the US-Korean space partnership. “Building on years of work together both on Earth and in space, we are proud to significantly grow our partnership with the Republic of Korea and its new space agency,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
KASA Administrator Youngbin Yoon echoed this sentiment, stating the agreement “presents a vital opportunity for Korea to emerge as a responsible space-faring nation, and also for humanity to pursue scientific discoveries and pioneer the future.”
The L4 mission aims to establish a solar wind observation station, providing valuable insights into space radiation. NASA and KASA will jointly conduct research on data transmission, optical communications, and the use of relays at L4.
This collaboration builds upon existing partnerships, such as the joint work on South Korea’s Danuri lunar orbiter. Further agreements are expected to follow, including potential collaborations on NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon.
While a launch date for the L4 mission has not yet been announced, this partnership signals a strong commitment from both NASA and KASA to advance space exploration and scientific understanding.
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