• 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.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.323-333
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• 2016

In this study, the uncertainty requirements for orbit, attitude, and burn performance were estimated and analyzed for the execution of the $1^{st}$ lunar orbit insertion (LOI) maneuver of the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) mission. During the early design phase of the system, associate analysis is an essential design factor as the $1^{st}$ LOI maneuver is the largest burn that utilizes the onboard propulsion system; the success of the lunar capture is directly affected by the performance achieved. For the analysis, the spacecraft is assumed to have already approached the periselene with a hyperbolic arrival trajectory around the moon. In addition, diverse arrival conditions and mission constraints were considered, such as varying periselene approach velocity, altitude, and orbital period of the capture orbit after execution of the $1^{st}$ LOI maneuver. The current analysis assumed an impulsive LOI maneuver, and two-body equations of motion were adapted to simplify the problem for a preliminary analysis. Monte Carlo simulations were performed for the statistical analysis to analyze diverse uncertainties that might arise at the moment when the maneuver is executed. As a result, three major requirements were analyzed and estimated for the early design phase. First, the minimum requirements were estimated for the burn performance to be captured around the moon. Second, the requirements for orbit, attitude, and maneuver burn performances were simultaneously estimated and analyzed to maintain the $1^{st}$ elliptical orbit achieved around the moon within the specified orbital period. Finally, the dispersion requirements on the B-plane aiming at target points to meet the target insertion goal were analyzed and can be utilized as reference target guidelines for a mid-course correction (MCC) maneuver during the transfer. More detailed system requirements for the KPLO mission, particularly for the spacecraft bus itself and for the flight dynamics subsystem at the ground control center, are expected to be prepared and established based on the current results, including a contingency trajectory design plan.

• 한국추진공학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.17-23
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• 2020

달 탐사에서 발사체 상단은 주로 저궤도에 투입된 탐사선을 38만 km의 거리에 있는 달까지 투입해주는 역할을 한다. 국외의 경우 상단(Upper Stage)은 달 탐사선을 지구-달 전이궤적에 투입 후 탐사선과 분리되고, 달 탐사선은 그 이후 자체 추진제를 이용하여 중간 경로 수정 기동 및 달 궤도 진입을 수행한다. 본 연구는 새롭게 제시되는 소형 액체상단을 기술하였다. 습질량이 총 2.9톤인 액체상단을 이용할 경우 달 탐사선을 지구-달 전이궤적 투입뿐만 아니라 달 궤도 진입까지 수행할 수 있다. 본 연구는 나로 우주센터에서 발사할 경우를 기준으로 허용 가능한 달 탐사선의 질량 범위를 도출하고, 탐사선의 허용 가능한 임무 범위도 다양하게 기술하고자 한다.

• 한국항공우주학회지
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• 제50권3호
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• pp.203-214
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• 2022

세계적으로 500 kg 급 이하의 소형위성에 대한 수요가 늘어남에 따라 전용 소형발사체에 대한 개발과 운용이 크게 증가하고 있다. 소형위성을 원하는 시간에 목표로 하는 궤도에 투입하는 발사체의 신속한 대응성이 주목받고 있으며, 신속한 위성군 구축 측면에서 공중발사 방식에 대한 관심이 증대되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 국내 소형위성군의 수요가 증가함에 따라 우리나라 및 주변 지리적 환경을 고려하여 공중발사체의 활용가능성에 대한 분석을 수행하였다. 대응성 측면에서 공중발사체와 지상 소형 및 대형발사체에 대해 임무 대응시간을 비교, 분석하고, 발사체의 궤도투입 성능 측면에서 공중발사체와 지상 소형발사체를 정량적으로 비교, 분석하였다. 분석결과, 공중발사체는 신속한 위성군 구축 관점에서 우리나라의 경우 실질적인 대응성은 제한되나 상대적으로 빠른 턴어라운드 시간과 낮은 경사각의 궤도 투입 시 효과적인 대안이 될 수 있다. 또한, 궤도투입 성능은 지상 소형발사체의 성능에 근접할 뿐만 아니라 요구 추진제 질량 측면에서 높은 효율성을 나타내어 국내 소형위성군의 궤도투입에 효과적인 발사수단으로 평가된다.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.293-306
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• 2019

In this study, the observational arc-length effect on orbit determination (OD) for the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) in the Earth-Moon Transfer phase was investigated. For the OD, we employed a sequential estimation using the extended Kalman filter and a fixed-point smoother. The mission periods, comprised between the perigee maneuvers (PM) and the lunar orbit insertion (LOI) maneuver in a 3.5 phasing loop of the KPLO, was the primary target. The total period was divided into three phases: launch-PM1, PM1-PM3, and PM3-LOI. The Doppler and range data obtained from three tracking stations [included in the deep space network (DSN) and Korea Deep Space Antenna (KDSA)] were utilized for the OD. Six arc-length cases (24 hrs, 48 hrs, 60 hrs, 3 days, 4 days, and 5 days) were considered for the arc-length effect investigation. In order to evaluate the OD accuracy, we analyzed the position uncertainties, the precision of orbit overlaps, and the position differences between true and estimated trajectories. The maximum performance of 3-day OD approach was observed in the case of stable flight dynamics operations and robust navigation capability. This study provides a guideline for the flight dynamics operations of the KPLO in the trans-lunar phase.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.203-216
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• 2011

To prepare for a future Korean lunar orbiter mission, semi-optimal lunar capture orbits using finite thrust are designed and analyzed. Finite burn delta-V losses during lunar capture sequence are also analyzed by comparing those with values derived with impulsive thrusts in previous research. To design a hypothetical lunar capture sequence, two different intermediate capture orbits having orbital periods of about 12 hours and 3.5 hours are assumed, and final mission operation orbit around the Moon is assumed to be 100 km altitude with 90 degree of inclination. For the performance of the on-board thruster, three different performances (150 N with $I_{sp}$ of 200 seconds, 300 N with $I_{sp}$ of 250 seconds, 450 N with $I_{sp}$ of 300 seconds) are assumed, to provide a broad range of estimates of delta-V losses. As expected, it is found that the finite burn-arc sweeps almost symmetric orbital portions with respect to the perilune vector to minimize the delta-Vs required to achieve the final orbit. In addition, a difference of up to about 2% delta-V can occur during the lunar capture sequences with the use of assumed engine configurations, compared to scenarios with impulsive thrust. However, these delta-V losses will differ for every assumed lunar explorer's on-board thrust capability. Therefore, at the early stage of mission planning, careful consideration must be made while estimating mission budgets, particularly if the preliminary mission studies were assumed using impulsive thrust. The results provided in this paper are expected to lead to further progress in the design field of Korea's lunar orbiter mission, particularly the lunar capture sequences using finite thrust.

• 한국추진공학회지
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.103-120
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• 2010

우주비행체 궤도기동 및 자세제어용 추력기의 개발역사를 조명하고 성능특성을 분석하며, 발사체의 단별 3축 제어에 관계하는 TVC, Gimbal, 추력기 등의 실재 활용현황을 평가한다. 우주발사체 최종 단은 탑재체의 정확한 궤도투입을 위하여 정밀한 3축 자세제어 시스템을 포함하여야 한다. 하이드라진 추력기는 양호한 성능특성과 높은 신뢰도를 배경으로 현재 운용중인 발사체 자세제어 시스템의 대부분을 점유하고 있다. 중형급 하이드라진 추력기에 대한 국내의 설계개발과 기술축적 현황에 관해서도 간략히 소개한다.