South Korea to join space race

South Korea is joining the Asian space race, announcing plans to launch a lunar orbiter by 2020. China's lunar probe was launched a month ago, and Japan's one month before that.

Now South Korea says it also wants to launch a lunar orbiter by 2020, and to land a probe on the surface after that.

The country's science ministry has announced a space 'road map', pledging to develop a rocket capable of the lunar mission within the next decade, at a cost of more than $4 billion.

It will also build the nation's space capabilities by launching satellites from a new domestic space base over coming years. © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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