South Korea will update its national plan for responding to space hazards every five years, halving the previous interval as growing satellite traffic and changes in solar activity create rapidly evolving risks.
The revised Space Development Promotion Act was promulgated and took effect Tuesday, according to the Korea AeroSpace Administration.
The law previously required the government to draw up its Basic Plan for Preparation Against Space Hazards every 10 years. The revised five-year cycle will also apply to plans adopted before the amendment.
That means the third basic plan will be established and implemented in 2029, rather than 2033-34.
“Space hazards are directly linked to public safety and the protection of national space assets,” KASA Administrator Oh Tae-seog said. “We will continue to strengthen the policy foundation needed to respond more quickly and flexibly to the rapidly changing space environment.”
Space hazards include falling space objects, collisions between objects in orbit and risks arising from changes in the space environment.
KASA said the shorter cycle would allow the government to respond more quickly to the growing number of satellites in low Earth orbit, the expansion of private-sector space activity and environmental changes caused by solar activity.
The agency plans to strengthen its space situational awareness capabilities, upgrade warning systems and expand cooperation with domestic and overseas organizations.
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com
