Space: an opportunity for South Korea and Australian defence cooperation
Australia and South Korea should collaborate on space technology by building and launching small surveillance satellites from Australian space launch facilities. It would be in the military and industrial interests of both countries to do so.
Over the past 30 years, South Korea has made significant progress in space technology. In 2022, it became the seventh nation capable of independent space launches, with its Nuri rocket. A few months later, South Korea’s first lunar probe, Danuri, reached the Moon’s orbit, where it is surveying future lunar landing sites.
As middle powers with similar interests in the Asia-Pacific, the two countries should pursue joint research and development projects to foster mutually beneficial technological advancements in this domain. By jointly developing small surveillance satellites and using Australian launch facilities, this collaboration will promote the national defence of both countries. It will also help to accelerate innovation in a high-technology field, significantly reduce the high costs associated with space development and help to create new industries.
Deployment of small satellites must be the priority. Compared with traditional large satellites, small ones, weighing 100kg or less, are cheaper to develop, build and deploy. Their development cycles are shorter, allowing for rapid technological innovation. Each launch can deploy several simultaneously. They are also easier to replace if they malfunction or are destroyed.
South Korea said in 2022 that it aimed to deploy 40 small satellites by 2030 to monitor nuclear and missile threats from North Korea. Given the average three-year lifespan of small satellites, maintaining the entire development and launch cycle independently will be a challenge for South Korea, so it should seek international cooperation. Other countries should see reason to help, especially as the surveillance target is the global threat of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.
Australia is the best candidate partner, because it has a nascent space program with similar goals. As emphasised in Australia’s Earth Observation from Space Roadmap, international collaboration would strengthen Australia’s satellite manufacturing capabilities.
Once the satellites are in operation, their information could also be used for Australian defence as well for civil tasks such as tracking floods and gathering data on climate change. Additionally, the Australian government’s cancelled National Space Mission for Earth Observation could be revived for a much lower cost if it were part of collaboration with South Korea.
Furthermore, both countries could use this partnership to strengthen their commercial space launch services. South Korea intends to launch its small satellites using solid-fuel rockets developed by its Agency for Defence Development. However, to meet the demand for frequent launches, South Korea will likely have to use commercial services. South Korean companies are already pursuing use of Australian launch sites.
Australian has the advantage of proximity to the equator and good weather. These factors reduce launch costs and increase the choice of orbits.
This partnership would help Australia to establish itself as a global space hub. The Arnhem Space Centre in the Northern Territory is already set to launch several South Korean rockets in 2025 and can be expanded.
It would be helpful if South Korea joined AUKUS Pillar 2 for cooperation on advanced technologies.
For satellite development and launch cooperation, technologies, parts and systems classified as strategic goods will need to flow between South Korea and Australia. To ensure this process runs smoothly, it is essential to align their export control procedures.
Given the security sensitivities involved, it would be safest to implement regulatory adjustments under the framework of a technology alliance like AUKUS Pillar 2.
In a joint statement marking the third anniversary of AUKUS last month, the leaders of Australia, the US and Britain expressed interest in exploring advanced capability cooperation with Canada, New Zealand and South Korea under AUKUS Pillar 2. Although South Korea lacks deep historical, political and military ties with Australia, a space technology agreement would begin to close that distance.
Space cooperation between South Korea and Australia holds immense potential, promising to open new frontiers in both technological innovation and strategic security for both nations.
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