Journal of Space Technology and Applications (우주기술과 응용)

The Korean Space Science Society (한국우주과학회)
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Conjunction Assessments of the Satellites Transported by KSLV-II and Preparation of the Countermeasure for Possible Events in Timeline

누리호 탑재 위성들의 충돌위험의 예측 및 향후 상황의 대응을 위한 분석

  • Received : 2023.03.29
  • Accepted : 2023.04.22
  • Published : 2023.05.31
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Abstract

Space is becoming more commercialized. Despite of its delayed start-up, space activities in Korea are attracting more nation-wide supports from both investors and government. May 25, 2023, KSLV II, also called Nuri, successfully transported, and inserted seven satellites to a sun-synchronous orbit of 550 km altitude. However, Starlink has over 4,000 satellites around this altitude for its commercial activities. Hence, it is necessary for us to constantly monitor the collision risks of these satellites against resident space objects including Starlink. Here we report a quantitative research output regarding the conjunctions, particularly between the Nuri satellites and Starlink. Our calculation shows that, on average, three times everyday, the Nuri satellites encounter Starlink within 1 km distance with the probability of collision higher than 1.0E-5. A comparative study with KOMPSAT-5, also called Arirang-5, shows that its distance of closest approach distribution significantly differs from those of Nuri satellites. We also report a quantitative analysis of collision-avoiding maneuver cost of Starlink satellites and a strategy for Korea, being a delayed starter, to speed up to position itself in the space leading countries. We used the AstroOne program for analyses and compared its output with that of Socrates Plus of Celestrak. The two line element data was used for computation.

우주공간은 안보공간의 역할에서 상업공간으로 역할을 급속히 넓혀가고 있다. 현실적인 제약들 때문에 늦게 출발했지만 우리나라는 최근 들어 비약적 기술발전과 함께 우주에 대한 국가적 관심이 커지고 있다. 2023년 5월 25일, 누리호는 7개의 위성을 성공적으로 550 km 고도의 태양동기궤도에 배치했다. 그런데, 이 근처 고도에는 이미 스타링크가 4,000대 이상의 위성을 배치시키고 상업적 서비스를 진행하고 있다. 따라서, 누리호 위성들은 스타링크위성들과의 위험상황발생 가능성에 대해 지속적으로 예측하고 만일의 경우에 대해서는 준비를 해야 한다. 본 논문은 누리호 위성들이 임무수행을 위해 궤도비행을 하면서 발생할 수 있는 충돌위험상황에 대해 수행한 연구의 계량적 분석결과를 보고한다. 분석결과에 따르면 누리호 위성들은 하루에 3회 정도 1 km 거리 이내로 스타링크위성에 접근하는 것으로 나타났으며, 이 상황에서의 충돌확률은 1.0E-5 이상인 것으로 계산되었고 크게는 1.0E-2 이상인 경우도 발생하고 있다. 2013년에 발사된 후 성공적으로 임무를 수행하고 있는 아리랑 5호에 대한 본 연구의 비교분석은 아리랑 5호와 누리호 위성들이 위험상황의 분포에 있어 중요한 차이가 있음을 보여준다. 본 연구는 스타링크가 회피기동을 할 때의 비용에 대한 계량적인 분석결과도 보고하며, 후발주자로서 우주산업에 진입하는 우리나라가 고려해야 할 전략도 제시했다. SpaceMap사에서 개발한 AstroOne 프로그램을 분석도구로 사용했으며, Celestrak사의 Socrates Plus에서 보고한 결과와 비교검증하였다. 우주물체데이터는 TLE(two line element)를 사용했다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

이 연구는 한국연구재단의 리더연구지원(2017R1A3B1023591) 및 미국공군(AFRL)의 연구지원(No. FA2386-22-1-4067)으로 수행되었습니다.

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