• 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.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제19권7호
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• pp.144-152
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• 2018

미국과 구소련을 중심으로 진행되었던 달 탐사는 1970년대에 중단되었다. 하지만 1990년대 달에 얼음 형태의 물과 희귀자원이 대량 발견되면서 유럽연합, 중국, 일본, 인도 등으로 대표되는 우주신흥강국 들도 달 자원 확보와 기지 건설을 목적으로 달 탐사 경쟁에 합류하고 있다. 향후 달 탐사 사업은 국제 협력을 기반으로 전 세계 주요 우주국과 우주 민간 기업이 함께 참여할 것으로 전망된다. 또한 달 궤도선 중심의 탐사에서 벗어나 달 착륙선 및 로버 중심의 무인 탐사가 전개되어 자원 탐사, 토양 표본 채취 및 귀환 등의 임무를 수행할 것으로 예상된다. 달 탐사를 통해 발견된 자원은 향후 유인 달 기지 건설과 밀접한 연관성이 있다. 달 표면에서의 건설을 위해서는 막대한 양의 자원을 지구로부터 수송해야하므로, 달 현지 자원을 이용하여 물, 산소를 생산하고 현지 지형을 이용하여 기지를 건설하는 기술이 필요하다. 따라서 본 논문에서는 현재 진행 중인 전 세계 달 탐사 동향 및 전망과 함께, 달 표면에서의 유인 달 기지 건설 방안과 국가별 달 건설 기술 개발 현황에 대해 조사 및 비교 분석하였다.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.185-192
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• 2021

This technical paper deals the practical transformation algorithms between several lunar reference frames which will be used for Korea pathfinder lunar orbiter (KPLO) flight operation. Despite of various lunar reference frame definitions already exist, use of a common transformation algorithm while establishing lunar reference frame is very important for all members related to KPLO mission. This is because use of slight different parameters during frame transformation may result significant misleading while reprocessing data based on KPLO flight dynamics. Therefore, details of practical transformation algorithms for the KPLO mission specific lunar reference frames is presented with step by step implementation procedures. Examples of transformation results are also presented to support KPLO flight dynamics data user community which is expected to give practical guidelines while post processing the data as their needs. With this technical paper, common understandings of reference frames that will be used throughout not only the KPLO flight operation but also science data reprocessing can be established. It is expected to eliminate, or at least minimize, unnecessary confusion among all of the KPLO mission members including: Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as well as other organizations participating in KPLO payload development and operation, or further lunar science community world-wide who are interested in KPLO science data post processing.

• 한국항공우주학회지
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.233-242
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• 2020

인류의 달 탐사 역사는 1958년 미국의 파이오니아 0호 임무로 시작되었다. 이후 1950~1970년대 미국과 구소련 2개국이 수많은 실패를 겪으며 달 탐사 임무를 수행하였다. 1990년대 이후로 일본, 유럽, 중국 등 우주선진국들이 달 탐사를 수행하기 시작했고, 우리나라도 2016년부터 달 탐사를 위한 달 궤도선을 개발하기 시작했다. 본 논문은 1950~1970년대 미국과 구소련의 달 탐사의 실패사례 및 원인을 임무목적에 따라 분석하였고, 1990년대 이후 우주선진국들의 달 탐사 수행 시 발생한 사업지연, 사업중단, 임무실패 등의 사례를 제시하였다. 본 논문에서 조사 및 분석한 사례를 통해 우리나라가 진행 중이거나 향후 진행하게 될 달 탐사 임무수행에 참조가 되고자 한다.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.181-194
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• 2022

Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), also known as Danuri, was successfully launched on 4 Aug. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station using a Space-X Falcon-9 rocket. Flight dynamics (FD) operational readiness was one of the critical parts to be checked before the flight. To demonstrate FD software's readiness and enhance the operator's contingency response capabilities, KPLO FD specialists planned, organized, and conducted four simulations and two rehearsals before the KPLO launch. For the efficiency and integrity of FD simulation and rehearsal, different sets of blind test data were prepared, including the simulated tracking measurements that incorporated dynamical model errors, maneuver execution errors, and other errors associated with a tracking system. This paper presents the simulation and rehearsal results with lessons learned for the KPLO FD operational readiness checkout. As a result, every functionality of FD operation systems is firmly secured based on the operation procedure with an enhancement of contingency operational response capability. After conducting several simulations and rehearsals, KPLO FD specialists were much more confident in the flight teams' ability to overcome the challenges in a realistic flight and FD software's reliability in flying the KPLO. Moreover, the results of this work will provide numerous insights to the FD experts willing to prepare deep space flight operations.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.43-60
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• 2024

Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) is South Korea's first space exploration mission, developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. It aims to develop technologies for lunar exploration, explore lunar science, and test new technologies. KPLO was launched on August 5, 2022, by a Falcon-9 launch vehicle from cape canaveral space force station (CCSFS) in the United States and placed on a ballistic lunar transfer (BLT) trajectory. A total of four trajectory correction maneuvers were performed during the approximately 4.5-month trans-lunar cruise phase to reach the Moon. Starting with the first lunar orbit insertion (LOI) maneuver on December 16, the spacecraft performed a total of three maneuvers before arriving at the lunar mission orbit, at an altitude of 100 kilometers, on December 27, 2022. After entering lunar orbit, the commissioning phase validated the operation of the mission mode, in which the payload is oriented toward the center of the Moon. After completing about one month of commissioning, normal mission operations began, and each payload successfully performed its planned mission. All of the spacecraft operations that KPLO performs from launch to normal operations were designed through the system operations design process. This includes operations that are automatically initiated post-separation from the launch vehicle, as well as those in lunar transfer orbit and lunar mission orbit. Key operational procedures such as the spacecraft's initial checkout, trajectory correction maneuvers, LOI, and commissioning were developed during the early operation preparation phase. These procedures were executed effectively during both the early and normal operation phases. The successful execution of these operations confirms the robust verification of the system operation.

• 암석학회지
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.373-384
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• 2017

4차 산업 혁명의 시작은 우주산업의 발달을 초래하며 인류가 지구 밖으로 인류의 활동영역을 넓혀가는 첫 계기를 가져다주었다. 아폴로 프로그램이후 달 자원 탐사 및 달 기지 건설이 현실화 되고 있는 것은 미국의 LCROSS (The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite)와 LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter)의 보다 진보적인 과학적 발전과 중국 창어 미션 등 최근 아시아 국가들이 내놓은 과학적인 새로운 발견이 크게 관여하였다. 달의 극지 자원은 물과 함께 휘발성 물질들이며 현지에서 활용이 요구되므로 인류의 달 기지 건설에 있어서 더욱 중요하다. 헬륨-3는 화석연료가 고갈 될 쯤에는 대체에너지로 활용될 수 있다. 현재 러시아, 유럽과 미국 뿐 만아니라 아시아에서도 달 표면 착륙을 통한 달 탐사와 인류의 향후 기지 건설에 대한 준비는 지속적으로 이어 질 것으로 전망되고 있다. 이러한 시점에서 정확한 달 자원을 이해하고 달 자원 탐사와 활용을 위한 준비는 보다 중요한 현실이라는 점을 고려하여 이 논문은 달 자원 탐사와 달기지에 대하여 고찰하였다.

• 한국건설관리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국건설관리학회 2008년도 정기학술발표대회 논문집
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• pp.828-832
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• 2008

2004년 미국의 부시대통령이 달기지 건설계획을 발표한 이후 세계 각국은 달(Moon)등 우주공간에서의 건설을 위한 다양한 연구를 하고 있다. 미국은 부시대통령의 우주개발 계획에 따라 2025년경 달 전초기지(Lunar Outpost)건설을 목표로 하는 실천 로드맵을 세워 현재 추진 중에 있다. 이러한 우주개발의 목적은 우주과학 및 첨단산업의 발전과 달에 매장되어 있는 자원의 확보를 위한 것으로 달에는 수많은 종류의 광물자원과 약 500만 톤 이상의 헬륨3가 매장되어 있는 것으로 추정된다. 이에 따라 미국 외에도 일본, 유럽, 중국 등 우주개발 선진국들은 우주자원의 확보를 위하여 인간의 장기거주 및 자원확보기지의 개발을 위한 연구를 수행하고 있다. 이에 따라 본 논문에서는 외국의 우주개발과 관련한 건설동향을 알아보고 본 논문에서는 우주건설의 정의 및 필요성을 제시하고 외국의 우주개발 계획 및 연구동향을 살펴봄으로써 향후 우주건설의 방향을 제시한다.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.211-219
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• 2016

Korea's lunar exploration project includes the launching of an orbiter, a lander (including a rover), and an experimental orbiter (referred to as a lunar pathfinder). Laser altimeters have played an important scientific role in lunar, planetary, and asteroid exploration missions since their first use in 1971 onboard the Apollo 15 mission to the Moon. In this study, a laser altimeter was proposed as a scientific instrument for the Korean lunar orbiter, which will be launched by 2020, to study the global topography of the surface of the Moon and its gravitational field and to support other payloads such as a terrain mapping camera or spectral imager. This study presents the baseline design and performance model for the proposed laser altimeter. Additionally, the study discusses the expected performance based on numerical simulation results. The simulation results indicate that the design of system parameters satisfies performance requirements with respect to detection probability and range error even under unfavorable conditions.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.247-256
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• 2015

In this work, an efficient method with which to evaluate the high-degree-and-order gravitational harmonics of the non-sphericity of a central body is described and applied to state predictions of a lunar orbiter. Unlike the work of Song et al. (2010), which used a conventional computation method to process gravitational harmonic coefficients, the current work adapted a well-known recursion formula that directly uses fully normalized associated Legendre functions to compute the acceleration due to the non-sphericity of the moon. With the formulated algorithms, the states of a lunar orbiting satellite are predicted and its performance is validated in comparisons with solutions obtained from STK/Astrogator. The predicted differences in the orbital states between STK/Astrogator and the current work all remain at a position of less than 1 m with velocity accuracy levels of less than 1 mm/s, even with different orbital inclinations. The effectiveness of the current algorithm, in terms of both the computation time and the degree of accuracy degradation, is also shown in comparisons with results obtained from earlier work. It is expected that the proposed algorithm can be used as a foundation for the development of an operational flight dynamics subsystem for future lunar exploration missions by Korea. It can also be used to analyze missions which require very close operations to the moon.