Launcher
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Korea next-generation launch vehicle (KSLV-III) – reusable methane launcher
Its methane engines, test stands and a new spaceport create a second Korean launch supply chain beyond Nuri.
The next-generation launch vehicle is South Korea's planned successor to Nuri. It is meant to carry much heavier loads, including a Korean lunar lander in 2032. The Ministry of Science and ICT announced it on 10 May 2022. The original plan was a two-stage kerosene rocket: five 100-tonne-class staged-combustion engines on the first stage and two 10-tonne-class engines on the second. It was to carry 10 tonnes to low Earth orbit or 1.8 tonnes towards the Moon. The budget was about 1.93 trillion won for 2023–2031, later given as about 2.01 trillion won to 2032.
Key dates: Hanwha Aerospace was the only bidder for the industry role. It was chosen as preferred partner in March 2024 and signed with the Public Procurement Service in May 2024, a contract reported at 950.5 billion won (about US$695 million). Three launches were planned from 2030, ending with the lunar lander in 2032.
Setbacks: in 2024 KARI and Hanwha disagreed over who would own the intellectual property. Hanwha asked for joint ownership. KARI said the government had put in nearly 1 trillion won and the contract gave it ownership. Members of the National Assembly backed KARI. In April 2025 KARI said it would not transfer the rights; the sources opened do not say how the dispute ended. Meanwhile KASA decided to switch the design to reuse. It announced this in February 2025 and asked the finance ministry for a new feasibility review in May 2025. The finance ministry's funding committee approved the revised plan on 22 December 2025: a methane-fuelled design that uses one 80-tonne methane engine type on both stages (the separate second-stage engine was dropped). The approved budget is about 2.29–2.3 trillion won.
Status (2026): the conceptual design was reviewed again on 19 March 2026, and KASA announced full development on 30 June 2026. Hanwha Aerospace is system integrator; HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Rotem, Bitsro Nextech and Hanyang Engineering also take part. A separate reusable technology demonstrator, 12.2 m tall and 6.4 tonnes with an 8-tonne-class engine, is being assembled at Hanwha's Suncheon plant. KASA is also choosing a second space centre for reusable launches (Gwangju or Jeju; result expected around December 2026). KASA's 2027 budget proposal (announced 1 Sep 2026) gives the programme 291.6 billion won, up from 120.4 billion won in 2026. In October 2026 Korean press described the vehicle as about 70 m tall with ten 80-tonne-class engines across its two stages.
Next: two demonstrator engine flight models are to finish combustion tests by 2027. The demonstrator is to fire on the ground and make two low-altitude take-off-and-landing flights at Naro in 2028. The 80-tonne engine fires at the end of 2031. A performance verification launch is planned for 2031, then the lunar lander launch, flown expendable, in 2032. A hop test of the reusable stage follows in 2032. The current project ends in 2032 and covers hop tests only. Recovering the first stage after a real launch, then servicing and reflying it, needs a separate follow-on project. KASA is considering one for 2033–2035, with a first estimate of about 91.2 billion won including a sea landing platform, but it has not yet been planned or funded (reported 21 Oct 2026). Reuse technology is to be complete by 2035.
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10 May 2022
The Ministry of Science and ICT announced a two-stage kerosene launcher to carry 10 tonnes to low Earth orbit or 1.8 tonnes towards the Moon, budgeted at about 1.93 trillion won for 2023–2031.
Why it matters: It set Korea's goal of a heavy launcher able to send its own lunar lander.
March 2024 (month only)
Hanwha Aerospace, the only bidder, was chosen as preferred partner for system integration.
Why it matters: It put the same company in charge of both Nuri and its successor.
May 2024 (month only)
Hanwha signed the system integration contract with the Public Procurement Service, reported at 950.5 billion won (about US$695 million).
Why it matters: The largest single industry contract in Korea's launcher programme so far.
April 2025 (dispute from 2024)
KARI said it would not share ownership of the project's intellectual property, which Hanwha had asked for; the outcome has not been published.
Why it matters: Who owns the design decides who can sell launches and upgrades later.
February–May 2025
KASA announced a move to a reusable design in February 2025 and asked the finance ministry for a new feasibility review in May 2025.
Why it matters: Reuse is aimed at cutting launch costs to compete on price worldwide.
22 December 2025
The finance ministry's funding committee approved a methane-fuelled design using one 80-tonne engine type on both stages, with a budget of about 2.29–2.3 trillion won.
Why it matters: It fixed the propellant and engine family, the key choice for engine and tank suppliers.
30 June 2026
After the conceptual design was reviewed again on 19 March 2026, KASA announced full development, with Hanwha as integrator and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Rotem, Bitsro Nextech and Hanyang Engineering taking part.
Why it matters: Moves the programme from studies to detailed design and hardware contracts.
1 September 2026 (announced)
KASA's 2027 budget proposal gives the programme 291.6 billion won, up from 120.4 billion won in 2026.
Why it matters: Rising annual funding signals the move into the costly build and test years.
21 October 2026 (reported)
A report to a lawmaker showed the approved project (to 2032) covers hop tests only; recovering, servicing and reflying the first stage needs a separate 2033–2035 project, first estimated at about 91.2 billion won, not yet planned.
Why it matters: Watch whether the follow-on project is planned and funded in time to avoid a gap after 2032.
2028 (year only)
A 12.2 m, 6.4-tonne reusable demonstrator with an 8-tonne-class engine is to fire on the ground and make two low-altitude take-off-and-landing flights at Naro.
What to watch: The first Korean test of landing a rocket stage.
2031 (year only)
A first, expendable verification flight of the full vehicle is planned for 2031, after the 80-tonne engine completes firing tests at the end of 2031.
What to watch: Watch the engine test schedule, which leaves little margin before the flight.
2032 (year only); reuse by 2035
The vehicle is to launch Korea's lunar lander in 2032, flown expendable, followed by a hop test of the reusable stage; reuse technology is to be complete by 2035.
What to watch: The lunar launch is the programme's main mission; reuse depends on the follow-on project.
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Partner list drawn from agency and Korean press sources as of 9 Nov 2026. Payload capacity of the reusable design and the developer of the 80-tonne main engine have not been published.
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| Compared item | Propellant / reuse | Payload | Budget | First flight (planned) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korea NGLV (reference) | Methane; one 80 t engine type on both stages; first stage to be reusable | Not published for the reusable design (2022 kerosene plan: 10 t to LEO, 1.8 t lunar) | ~2.29–2.3 trillion won (~US$1.6 billion) | Verification flight 2031; lunar lander 2032 | Full development since Jun 2026 |
| India NGLV (ISRO) | Reusable first stage | Up to 30 t to LEO | Rs 8,240 crore (development, three test flights, facilities) | 96-month development from approval | Approved 18 Sep 2024 |
| SpaceX Falcon 9 (USA) | Kerosene; reusable first stage | 22,800 kg to LEO; 8,300 kg to GTO | Not applicable | In service | 70 m, 9 Merlin engines |
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