- Pledges to strengthen Korea-U.S. space cooperation with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris

- MSIT and NASA sign joint statement on cooperation on space exploration and space science

- Held a meeting with Korean-American NASA scientists

President Yoon visited NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center near Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, April 25, at 3 p.m. local time. The visit to NASA, the world's leading space development organization, was organized to take Korea-US space cooperation to the next level. U.S. Vice President Kamala D. Harris welcomed President Yoon to Goddard, along with NASA Deputy Administrator Pam A. Melroy, Goddard Space Flight Center Director Makenzie B. Lystrup, and Korean-American NASA astronaut candidate Jonny Kim.

President Yoon and Vice President Harris toured Goddard Space Flight Center's major facilities and projects. They learned about the Roman Space Telescope, the main project in the Goddard Space Flight Center, and PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem, the world's most advanced ocean and atmospheric observatory). They also listened to a briefing on how to space development can contribute to global crisis such as climate change. After the tour, President Yoon and Vice President Harris delivered a joint speech at the Goddard Centrifuge site, emphasizing the importance of Korea-U.S. space cooperation.

MSIT Minister Lee Jong-ho and NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy signed the Joint Statement on Cooperation in Space Exploration and Space Science between MSIT and NASA. Under the joint statement, the two organizations will undertake a concept study to identify bilateral joint projects in areas such as deep space communications, lunar science and technology research including gateways, robotics, mobility, and space medicine research for lunar settlement activities. Following the concept study, the two organizations will sign specific agreements to jointly implement the projects.

On the same day, President Yoon also invited about 20 Korean NASA scientists to Goddard Space Flight Center for a meeting. The Korean NASA scientists presented various opinions on their working experiences at NASA, and visions of space development. "We expect President Yoon's visit to NASA to serve as a momentum for strengthening Korea-US space cooperation, and we will speed up follow-up measures with NASA," said MSIT Minister Lee Jong-ho. "We will establish the new space agency by the end of this year to bring new changes to the space development scene in Korea."

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4033, E-mail: yunay@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT.

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Please refer to the attached PDF.

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Joint Statement of Intent for

Cooperation on Space Exploration and Space Science

between the

National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United
States of America

and the

Ministry of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea

25 April 2023

Building upon a history of successful cooperation in space and aeronautics activities between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (hereinafter referred to as “NASA”) and the Ministry of Science and ICT (hereinafter referred to as “MSIT”);

Considering NASA’s and MSIT’s shared commitment to the Artemis Accords and the principles of creating a safe, transparent, peaceful, and prosperous future in space for the United States, the Republic of Korea, and the world; and

Recognizing the importance of space exploration for future scientific development and the advancement of human knowledge, and a mutual interest of NASA and MSIT in advancing exploration in a sustained manner through mutually beneficial cooperation,

NASA and MSIT desire to continue discussions on potential cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as space communications and navigation, including utilization of the Korea Deep Space Antenna for the NASA Deep Space Network; science and technology research at or on the Moon, including at the Gateway, the NASA-led international outpost orbiting the Moon; space science including in the fields of heliophysics, astrophysics, planetary science, and Earth science; and activities to further enhance future space exploration such as biological and physical sciences research and activities on the lunar surface, including mobility and robotics and utilizing the Republic of Korea’s expertise in hydrogen cells.

NASA and MSIT also confirm their mutual interest in developing an agreement or agreements to study concepts for cooperation in the aforementioned areas that could lead to advances in exploration and scientific discovery. In furtherance of this development, NASA and MSIT will identify the proper points of contact, including within the upcoming Korea AeroSpace Administration(KASA), to initiate these discussions. Once possible cooperative concepts sufficiently mature, any joint activities to be carried out as a result of the discussions will be implemented through appropriate international agreements.

For the National Aeronautics             For the Ministry of Science and ICT

and Space Administration

____________________________           

Pam Melroy                                           Jong-Ho Lee

Deputy Administrator                            Minister