• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.279-290
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• 2013

Due to the continuous space development by mankind, the number of space objects including space debris in orbits around the Earth has increased, and accordingly, difficulties of space development and activities are expected in the near future. In this study, among the stages for space debris removal, the implementation of a vision-based approach technique for approaching space debris from a far-range rendezvous state to a proximity state, and the ground test performance results were described. For the vision-based object tracking, the CAM-shift algorithm with high speed and strong performance, and the Kalman filter were combined and utilized. For measuring the distance to a tracking object, a stereo camera was used. For the construction of a low-cost space environment simulation test bed, a sun simulator was used, and in the case of the platform for approaching, a two-dimensional mobile robot was used. The tracking status was examined while changing the position of the sun simulator, and the results indicated that the CAM-shift showed a tracking rate of about 87% and the relative distance could be measured down to 0.9 m. In addition, considerations for future space environment simulation tests were proposed.

• Journal of Space Technology and Applications
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.101-117
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• 2023

Active debris removal, a technology that approaches and removes space debris in orbit, and the on-orbit service, a technology for extending the mission life of satellites by fuel charging or by exchanging the battery, are gaining interest with the growth of the space community. SaTReC plans to develop a satellite capable of capturing and removing Korean satellites orbiting in space after the end of their missions. In contrast to the previously launched satellites by Korea, which were mainly intended to observe Earth and the space environment, rendezvous/docking technologies, as required in the future during, for instance, space exploration missions, will be implemented and demonstrated. In this paper, an orbital transition method for next-generation small satellites that will capture and remove space debris will be introduced. It is assumed that a small satellite with a mass of approximately 200 kg will be injected into the mission orbit through Korea Space Launch Vehicle-II in 2027. Because the satellite must access the target using a minimum amount of fuel, an approaching technology using Earth's J2 perturbation force has been developed. This method is expected to enable space debris removal missions for relatively lightweight satellites and to serve as the basis for carrying out a new type of space exploration in what is termed the 'Newspace' era.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.435-444
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• 2022

This study conducts capture simulations of space debris using a space-net. The present capture simulations are performed using ABAQUS, a nonlinear structural dynamics analysis code. A square space-net with 1 m × 1 m and a space debris with a cube configuration(0.3 m × 0.3 m × 0.3 m and 30 kg) are considered as baseline models. Using the baseline models, the capture simulation using ABAQUS is conducted to understand the capture process and establish the criteria of capture success or fail. In addition, the capture simulations are performed when various properties of the space-net are considered, and it is investigated that major design factors of the space-net are recognized to capture successfully the space debris.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.354-363
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• 2012

Now there are a lot of expired satellites or space debris around the earth orbit and they threaten the operating satellites and manned space missions. KOMPSAT-2 that scheduled to operate the mission by July, 2013 also has to consider the space debris. This paper introduces the '25 years rules' that must be re-entered within 25 years after the space mission for LEO satellites and describes the removal trajectory design that satisfies the '25 years rules' and minimizes fuel consumption. And this paper suggests monte-carlo simulation for risk analysis that causes the approaching object to the removal trajectory. The result shows that the collision probability of worst case presents 6.0741E-07 and it need to more analysis about precise satellite safety during removal maneuver because there is no information about the object size that approaching to the satellites.

• Journal of Space Technology and Applications
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.165-198
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• 2023

According to the studies recently published through advanced maui optical and space surveillance technologies (AMOS) Conference 2021, LEO conjunction assessment revolves around not on operating satellites but space debris such as rocket bodies and non-operational satellites, hence suggesting a solution through space traffic management. Against this backdrop, the issue of active debris removal (ADR) has emerged to the surface as an international challenge throughout the globe. In step with this, the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution calling on nations to halt tests of direct-ascent anti-satellites, to which U.S. and twelve other nations included Republic of Korea were original signatories. ADR techniques are also actively being researched in the civil sector, and these commercial services, if successfully developed, could possibly be utilized for military use as well. As such, this paper will help readers' understanding for the current status of ADR techniques, space threat assessments, on-orbit rendezvous and proximity operations by looking at previous cases, reflecting on space-faring nations' ADR techniques and its development probability in relation to space weapons. As a conclusion, this study will propose the needs of developing space propulsion system by understanding Space Maneuver Warfare in preparation for the future space battlefield.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.794-806
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• 2017

It is essential to protect the national space assets and space environment safely as a space development country from the continuously increasing space debris. And Active Debris Removal(ADR) is the most active way to solve this problem. In this paper, we studied the Artificial Neural Network(ANN) for a stable recognition model of vision-based space debris tracking system. We obtained the simulated image of the space environment by the KARICAT which is the ground-based space debris clearing satellite testbed developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, and created the vector which encodes structure and color-based features of each object after image segmentation by depth discontinuity. The Feature Vector consists of 3D surface area, principle vector of point cloud, 2D shape and color information. We designed artificial neural network model based on the separated Feature Vector. In order to improve the performance of the artificial neural network, the model is divided according to the categories of the input feature vectors, and the ensemble technique is applied to each model. As a result, we confirmed the performance improvement of recognition model by ensemble technique.