• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.22-29
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• 2009

Development of Moon Explorer-1 (orbiter) is supposed to be commenced in 2017 and launched in 2020. In case of Moon Explorer-2 (lander), it would be slated to start in 2021 and launch in 2025. In this paper conceptual feasibility studies are conducted for the propulsion system applicable to a Moon Explorer. In the first place the availability of monopropellant/bipropellant/electric propulsion system is examined with domestic as well as overseas precedents. Secondly ${\Delta}V$ is estimated by the mission analysis and the propellant budget is calculated accordingly. Subsequently feasibility of a chemical propulsion system for a Moon Explorer is evaluated.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.131-143
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• 2022

The lunar exploration autonomous vehicle operates based on the lunar topography information obtained from real-time image characterization. For highly accurate topography characterization, a large number of training images with various background conditions are required. Since the real lunar topography images are difficult to obtain, it should be helpful to be able to generate mimic lunar image data artificially on the basis of the planetary analogs site images and real lunar images available. In this study, we aim to artificially create lunar topography images by using the location information-based style transfer algorithm known as Wavelet Correct Transform (WCT2). We conducted comparative experiments using lunar analog site images and real lunar topography images taken during China's and America's lunar-exploring projects (i.e., Chang'e and Apollo) to assess the efficacy of our suggested approach. The results show that the proposed techniques can create realistic images, which preserve the topography information of the analog site image while still showing the same condition as an image taken on lunar surface. The proposed algorithm also outperforms a conventional algorithm, Deep Photo Style Transfer (DPST) in terms of temporal and visual aspects. For future work, we intend to use the generated styled image data in combination with real image data for training lunar topography objects to be applied for topographic detection and segmentation. It is expected that this approach can significantly improve the performance of detection and segmentation models on real lunar topography images.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2012.10a
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• pp.81-86
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• 2012

The shock absorber is very important in various mechanical field. Without the shock absorber, the structure might be broken. For lunar lander, honeycomb shock absorber to absorber the shock by using plastic deformation of honeycomb has been used. It is cheap and simple to use but impossible using again without changing the honeycomb. The oleo-pneumatic type shock absorber is not able to use in the cosmos because it is vacuum and its temperature. This study suggests the hybrid shock absorber combined spring-ratchet mechanical shock absorber and eddy current electromagnetic damper. The ratchet restricts rebound of lunar lander and the spring converts the impact energy to the potential energy of the spring. The eddy current damper dissipates the impact energy by eddy current force without contact between the parts. This hybrid shock absorber is reusable while the honeycomb shock absorber isn't. The impact absorbing test of the hybrid shock absorber was carried out. This paper shows that the compared results the hybrid shock absorber with ratchet and without ratchet and evaluates the possibility of using for lunar lander.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.240-246
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• 2016

The hottest news and achievements of space science and research in recent years may be NASA Curiosity rover's exploration (2013) of Mars, China Chang'e 3's exploration (2013) of Moon, ESA Rosetta's exploration (2014) of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, and NASA New Horizons' exploration (2015) of Pluto, which are very astonishing achievement since such a deep space journey was possible with current technology. In contrast the wonderful cruise and navigation technologies evolution of explorer in deep space, there are no remarkable changes in deep space data communication, it is still in conservative area, of which much changes are reluctantly accepted so far. But there are some movements of deep space exploration in order to allow ground brilliant technologies to deep space. One of those experiments is internet, whose main topic of this paper. In this paper, we will present the analysis of effectiveness of solar system internet to deep space exploration.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.338-344
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• 2018

The lunar surface temperature is important as a environmental parameter for the thermal design of the lunar exploration vehicles such as orbital spacecraft, lander, and rovers. In this study, the temperature is numerically predicted through a simplified lumped system model for the energy conservation. The physical values required for the analysis of the energy equation are derived by considering the geometric shape, and the values presented in the previous research results. The areal specific heat, which is the most important thermo-physical property of the lumped system model, was extracted from the temperature measurements by the Diviner loaded on the LRO, and the value was predicted by calibration of the analytical model to the measurements. The predicted temperature distribution obtained through numerical integration has sufficient accuracy to be applied to the thermal design of the lunar exploration vehicles.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.1-5
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• 2010

Understanding the crushing behaviour of aluminum honeycombs under dynamic loading is useful for crash simulations of vehicles and for design of impacting energy absorbers. In the study of honeycomb crushing under quasi-static, dynamic loading, the most important parameter is crush strength. Crush strength is indicated to energy absorption characteristic of aluminum honeycomb. In this study, Using Finite Element Analysis carried out crush strength of hexagonal aluminum honeycomb then the results was compared with Quasi-static test. Consequently, Crush strength is different in quasi-static loading and dynamic loading about 16%.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.39 no.9
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• pp.832-838
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• 2011

The shock absorber with magnetic effect is suggested for a lunar lander. The shock absorber consists of a metal tube, a piston rod, and several permanent magnets moved by a piston rod in the tube, and the shock energy can be dispersed and dissipated by magnetic effects such as the magnetic force existed between a metal and magnets and the eddy current effect generated by a relative motion with a conductor and magnets. Besides, the shock-absorbing effect similar to that of a coil spring can be obtained by arranging the magnets in line, which are facing the same polar each other. The device has a very simple structure and is usable in space due to the unnecessariness of any oil or gas. The shock absorber was designed and manufactured for experiments and its spring and damping characteristics were studied by the theoretical, analytical and experimental methods.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.781-786
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• 2017

This study aims to acquire a basic clustering technology of hybrid rocket motor for lunar lander, including the oxidizer flow distribution characteristic and the simultaneous ignition characteristic. The experimental setups were established to conduct a series of ground firing test of a clustered motor. The gaseous oxygen (GOX) and the HDPE (High Density PolyEthylene) were used as the oxidizer and the solid fuel, respectively. Experimental results which are the simultaneous pyrotechnic ignition characteristic, the oxidizer distribution characteristic and the pressure traces of each combustion chamber imply that the hybrid rocket clustered motor works successfully.

• Journal of Space Technology and Applications
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.86-99
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• 2023

The mass spectrometer, being an essential scientific instrument for uncovering the origin of the solar system and life, has been used since the early 1970s on board spacecraft to obtain information of neutral and ionized elements in the atmosphere and surface of the moon, planets, asteroids, and comets. According to the 4th Basic Plan for the Promotion of Space Development (2023-2027), Korea plans to conduct lunar landing in 2032 and Mars landing in 2045 as the core goals of the plan and focuses on developing the technologies required for unmanned robotic exploration missions. In this regard, it is crucial to develop the technology of a mass spectrometer, which is the most fundamental payload for space exploration for maximized scientific achievements, however never tried before in any domestic space missions. We describe in this paper the principle of a domestically developed quadrupole mass spectrometer, its prototype model, and the test results of its performance. We conclude this paper with intended future improvements.

• Current Industrial and Technological Trends in Aerospace
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.90-98
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• 2008

Nanotechnology(NT) refers to a field of advanced micro-technology covering the creation and manufacturing of materials on the atomic and molecular scale and requires interdisciplinary study with various fields including materials science, physics, chemistry, electronics and others. Whileas nanotechnology is a kind of micro and small scaled science, space technology(ST) is one of the larger and system technologies utilizing broad fields of mechanical, materials, electronics and communication technologies. It is necessary to select and concentrate the functional items of nanotechnology for efficient application to be utilized in space technology, due to the cross-sectional characteristics of nanotechnology within nanomaterials, nanoelectronics, and nanomanufacturing. This paper provides the current state of art of nanotechnology in space technology by evaluating NASA's activities and the 9th frame of the project ANTARES(Analysis of Nanotechnology Applications in Space Developments and Systems) with the support of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Space Flight Management, Division Technology for Space Systems and Robotics. It has shown that it is necessary to apply nanotechnology to space technology in order to achieve international competitiveness, for the nanotechnology can bring the previously impossible things to reality. Since KARI plans to send an unmanned probe to the moon's orbit and land a probe on the moon's surface in 2025, it is urgently needed to incorporate nanotechnology to national space development plan.