• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.79-88
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• 2023

On Aug. 4, 2022, at 23:08:48 (UTC), the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), also known as Danuri, was launched using a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle. Currently, KPLO is successfully conducting its science mission around the Moon. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Deep Space Network (DSN) was utilized for the successful flight operation of KPLO. A great deal of joint effort was made between the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and NASA DSN team since the beginning of KPLO ground system design for the success of the mission. The efficient utilization and management of NASA DSN in deep space exploration are critical not only for the spacecraft's telemetry and command but also for tracking the flight dynamics (FD) operation. In this work, the top-level DSN interface architecture, detailed workflows, DSN support levels, and practical lessons learned from the joint team's efforts are presented for KPLO's successful FD operation. Due to the significant joint team's efforts, KPLO is currently performing its mission smoothly in the lunar mission orbit. Through KPLO cooperative operation experience with DSN, a more reliable and efficient partnership is expected not only for Korea's own deep space exploration mission but also for the KARI-NASA DSN joint support on other deep space missions in the future.

• 한국항공우주학회지
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• 제50권12호
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• pp.877-888
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• 2022

최근 루나 게이트웨이의 선구자 임무인 CAPSTONE이 NRHO에서 통신 및 항법 기술 시연을 위해 소형발사체로 발사됨에 따라 전용 소형발사체와 소형위성을 이용하여 심우주 임무를 가능하게 한 이번 행사가 큰 주목을 받았다. 본 연구에서는 소형발사체 이중발사 운영개념이 소개하고, 달, 화성 및 소행성 탐사를 위한 새로운 개념의 가능성을 검토했다. 단독발사로 달 저궤도 임무에 약 247 kg을, 이중발사로 화성 및 소행성 아포피스와 같은 목적지에 각각 215 kg 및 183 kg을 수송할 수 있는 것으로 나타났다.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.139-151
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• 2017

This paper presents an overview of deep space orbit determination software (DSODS), as well as validation and verification results on its event prediction capabilities. DSODS was developed in the MATLAB object-oriented programming environment to support the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) mission. DSODS has three major capabilities: celestial event prediction for spacecraft, orbit determination with deep space network (DSN) tracking data, and DSN tracking data simulation. To achieve its functionality requirements, DSODS consists of four modules: orbit propagation (OP), event prediction (EP), data simulation (DS), and orbit determination (OD) modules. This paper explains the highest-level data flows between modules in event prediction, orbit determination, and tracking data simulation processes. Furthermore, to address the event prediction capability of DSODS, this paper introduces OP and EP modules. The role of the OP module is to handle time and coordinate system conversions, to propagate spacecraft trajectories, and to handle the ephemerides of spacecraft and celestial bodies. Currently, the OP module utilizes the General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT) as a third-party software component for high-fidelity deep space propagation, as well as time and coordinate system conversions. The role of the EP module is to predict celestial events, including eclipses, and ground station visibilities, and this paper presents the functionality requirements of the EP module. The validation and verification results show that, for most cases, event prediction errors were less than 10 millisec when compared with flight proven mission analysis tools such as GMAT and Systems Tool Kit (STK). Thus, we conclude that DSODS is capable of predicting events for the KPLO in real mission applications.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.51-61
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• 2014

In this work, the preliminary analysis on both the tracking schedule and measurements characteristics for the spacecraft on the phase of lunar transfer and capture is performed. To analyze both the tracking schedule and measurements characteristics, lunar transfer and capture phases' optimized trajectories are directly adapted from former research, and eleven ground tracking facilities (three Deep Space Network sties, seven Near Earth Network sites, one Daejeon site) are assumed to support the mission. Under these conceptual mission scenarios, detailed tracking schedules and expected measurement characteristics during critical maneuvers (Trans Lunar Injection, Lunar Orbit Insertion and Apoapsis Adjustment Maneuver), especially for the Deajeon station, are successfully analyzed. The orders of predicted measurements' variances during lunar capture phase according to critical maneuvers are found to be within the order of mm/s for the range and micro-deg/s for the angular measurements rates which are in good agreement with the recommended values of typical measurement modeling accuracies for Deep Space Networks. Although preliminary navigation accuracy guidelines are provided through this work, it is expected to give more practical insights into preparing the Korea's future lunar mission, especially for developing flight dynamics subsystem.

• 한국항공우주학회지
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• 제45권9호
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• pp.746-756
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• 2017

본 연구에서는 한국형 달 탐사 시험용 궤도선을 위한 심우주 추적망 (Deep Space Network)의 관측값을 구현하는 알고리즘을 개발하였다. 이 알고리즘을 활용하여 탐사선의 신호 지연 효과를 관측 모델을 통해 보정해서 계산된 관측값을 생성할 수 있다. 계산된 관측값으로 거리, 도플러, 방위각, 고도각을 생성하였다. 기하학적 데이터 값을 General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT)의 시나리오를 통해 구하였으며, 계산된 관측값을 구하기 위해서 시간 지연 효과, 대류층 지연 효과, 대류권 내 하전 입자에 의한 지연 효과, 대류권 밖 하전 입자에 의한 지연 효과, 대류층에 의한 굴절 효과, 안테나에 의한 지연 효과를 고려하였다. 관측 모델들을 통해 구한 계산된 관측값은 시험용 궤도선의 정밀 궤도 결정을 위해 사용된다. 본 논문에서 개발한 데이터 시뮬레이션 모듈은 미 항공우주국의 궤도 결정 툴 박스 (Orbit Determination ToolBoX, ODTBX)를 이용해 검증되었다.

• 한국항공우주학회지
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.357-367
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• 2008

향후 우리나라의 달탐사 임무에 대비하여 순간 추력을 이용한 한국형 달탐사 예비 임무 설계 소프트웨어를 개발하였다. 달 탐사 임무 수행을 위한 지구 출발 단계, 달 천이 단계, 달 도착 및 임무 수행 궤도 단계를 포함한 임무 설계가 이루어 졌다. 이 소프트웨어를 이용하면 순간 추력을 사용한 최적의 달탐사 비행궤적을 설계할 수 있다. 이를 바탕으로 우리나라의 우주 발사체인 KSLV-II를 사용할 때의 발사 가능한 달 탐사선의 최대 질량을 산출하여 보았다. 아울러 심우주 추적망을 이용하여 탐사선의 추적 가능 여부에 대한 해석이 이루어 졌으며 탐사선과의 통신, 태양 전지판의 지향점 해석 그리고 식기간의 분석을 위한 지구-달-탐사선-태양 간의 기하학적 위치에 대한 해석도 함께 이루어졌다.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.295-308
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• 2018

In this study, orbit determination (OD) simulation for the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) was accomplished for investigation of the observational arc-length effect using a sequential estimation algorithm. A lunar polar orbit located at 100 km altitude and $90^{\circ}$ inclination was mainly considered for the KPLO mission operation phase. For measurement simulation and OD for KPLO, the Analytical Graphics Inc. Systems Tool Kit 11 and Orbit Determination Tool Kit 6 software were utilized. Three deep-space ground stations, including two deep space network (DSN) antennas and the Korea Deep Space Antenna, were configured for the OD simulation. To investigate the arc-length effect on OD, 60-hr, 48-hr, 24-hr, and 12-hr tracking data were prepared. Position uncertainty by error covariance and orbit overlap precision were used for OD performance evaluation. Additionally, orbit prediction (OP) accuracy was also assessed by the position difference between the estimated and true orbits. Finally, we concluded that the 48-hr-based OD strategy is suitable for effective flight dynamics operation of KPLO. This work suggests a useful guideline for the OD strategy of KPLO mission planning and operation during the nominal lunar orbits phase.

• 한국항공우주학회지
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.218-227
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• 2016

대한민국 정부는 2020년까지 달에 궤도선과 착륙선 발사를 계획하고 있다. 두 가지 탐사선을 발사하기 이전에 탐사선의 핵심기술 확보 및 달의 과학 데이터를 획득하기 위해 시험용 궤도선을 2018년까지 발사할 계획이다. 궤도선의 탑재체는 달 표면 촬영 및 과학 데이터를 획득한 후 지상으로 전송한다. 또한 궤도선이 지상국과 교신이 가능하면 S-band 대역으로 원격명령 및 원격 측정 데이터를 전송하고, X-band 대역으로 과학 데이터를 전송한다. 한국형 심우주 네트워크는 궤도선과 주로 S 및 X-band 통신을 수행한다. 지구-달 전이 단계에서 한국형 심우주 네트워크가 가용할지 않을 경우 Deep Space Network 또는 Universal Space Network를 이용하며, 임무 궤도에서는 예비로 이 네트워크들이 사용된다. 본 논문은 임무 시나리오에 따른 궤도선의 일별 교신 횟수를 예측하고 운영 시나리오를 작성하기 위해 다양한 안테나 및 마스크 각도에 따른 가시성 조건을 분석하였다.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.145-155
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• 2021

In this work, preliminary launch opportunities from NARO Space Center to the Sun-Earth Lagrange point are analyzed. Among five different Sun-Earth Lagrange points, L1 and L2 points are selected as suitable candidates for, respectively, solar and astrophysics missions. With high fidelity dynamics models, the L1 and L2 point targeting problem is formulated regarding the location of NARO Space Center and relevant Target Interface Point (TIP) for each different launch date is derived including launch injection energy per unit mass (C3), Right ascension of the injection orbit Apoapsis Vector (RAV) and Declination of the injection orbit Apoapsis Vector (DAV). Potential launch periods to achieve L1 and L2 transfer trajectory are also investigated regarding coasting characteristics from NARO Space Center. The magnitude of the Lagrange Orbit Insertion (LOI) burn, as well as the Orbit Maintenance (OM) maneuver to maintain more than one year of mission orbit around the Lagrange points, is also derived as an example. Even the current work has been made under many assumptions as there are no specific mission goals currently defined yet, so results from the current work could be a good starting point to extend diversities of future Korean deep-space missions.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.123-129
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• 2023

This paper presents an analysis of the trans-lunar trajectory insertion performance of the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), the first lunar exploration spacecraft of the Republic of Korea. The successful launch conducted on August 4, 2022 (UTC), utilized the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The trans-lunar trajectory insertion performance plays a crucial role in ensuring the overall mission success by directly influencing the spacecraft's onboard fuel consumption. Following separation from the launch vehicle (LV), a comprehensive analysis of the trajectory insertion performance was performed by the KPLO flight dynamics (FD) team. Both orbit parameter message (OPM) and orbit determination (OD) solutions were employed using deep space network (DSN) tracking measurements. As a result, the KPLO was accurately inserted into the ballistic lunar transfer (BLT) trajectory, satisfying all separation requirements at the target interface point (TIP), including launch injection energy per unit mass (C3), right ascension of the injection orbit apoapsis vector (RAV), and declination of the injection orbit apoapsis vector (DAV). The precise BLT trajectory insertion facilitated the smoother operation of the KPLO's remainder mission phase and enabled the utilization of reserved fuel, consequently significantly enhancing the possibilities of an extended mission.