Korean Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO)

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) signed a lunar exploration technical cooperation with NASA which increased the possibility of exploration success greatly. A Korean Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) is to be followed by a Korean Lunar Explorer (KLE) which consists of an orbiter and a lander unit equipped with a small rover with a mass of approximately 20 kg. The key goals of the Korean lunar mission are the investigations of lunar geology and space environment, exploration of lunar resources, and testing of future space and planetary exploration technology which will assist in future human activities on the moon and beyond.