South Korea will launch a lunar exploration project next year.
 
The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning approved the plan for the first stage of the project on Wednesday in a space development committee meeting.
 
Under the first stage of the project, the government will develop a 550 kilogram orbiter and payload by 2018 under the supervision of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).
 
For the second stage of the project that will run from 2018 to 2020, the government will conduct preliminary research to send a landing vessel to the moon with its own developed launch vehicle.
 
In 2016, the first year of the project, the government will set basic designs for the orbiter and ground station and select scientific payloads.
 
The government will also seek cooperation with the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to reduce errors and enhance its space exploration capabilities.