South Korea is set to launch its first lunar orbiter as it doubles down on its space programs, aiming to land a probe on the moon by 2030.
The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter, nicknamed Danuri, which means “enjoying the moon,” will launch Friday on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from the US Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, the science ministry said from South Korea.
The launch was originally scheduled for last Wednesday, but was delayed due to an unspecified maintenance issue with the SpaceX rocket.
“The Danuri has successfully completed all preparations for about a month and is currently mounted on the launch vehicle,” the ministry said in a statement.
If successful, South Korea will become the world’s seventh lunar explorer and the fourth in Asia, behind China, Japan and India.
The launch comes as South Korea accelerates its space program, aiming to send a probe to the moon by 2030 and join nine countries working on the Artemis project with the goal of returning to the moon by 2024.
In July, South Korea successfully conducted a second test launch of its domestically produced Nuri rocket and reported its first successful launch of a solid-fuel space launch rocket in March as part of efforts to launch spy satellites
The 678kg Danuri will separate from the missile about 40 minutes after launch and should begin communicating with a ground station within 60 minutes.
It will enter lunar orbit in December before beginning a year-long observation mission, which includes searching for a landing site and testing space Internet technology, the ministry said.
Space launches have long been a sensitive issue on the Korean Peninsula, where North Korea faces international sanctions over its nuclear-armed ballistic missile program.
In March, North Korea asked to expand its space rocket launch site to advance its space ambitions, after South Korea and the United States accused it of testing a new intercontinental ballistic missile under the pretext of launching a space vehicle
South Korea says its space program is for peaceful and scientific purposes and that any military use of the technology, such as in spy satellites, is for its defense.