TOKYO (Sputnik) – The ministry has earmarked an equivalent of over $17 million in 2016 for the $169-million project, according to the Yonhap news service.
The project’s first 2016-2018 stage envisions sending an orbiter to the moon, followed by a landing vessel with an independently developed launch vehicle under the second phase.
Additionally, the ministry plans to independently develop an orbiter and a ground station using domestic technologies. Seoul plans to cooperate with foreign agencies including the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop payloads, according to the outlet.
The ministry disclosed plans to make a moon landing by 2020-2025 in 2007.
