• Journal of Space Technology and Applications
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2021

The high-level Space Situational Awareness (SSA) objective is to provide to the users dependable, accurate and timely information in order to support risk management on orbit and during re-entry and support safe and secure operation of space assets and related services. Therefore the risk assessment for the re-entry of space objects should be managed nationally. In this research, the Software for Re-Entry Prediction of space objects (SREP) was developed for national SSA system. In particular, the rate of change of the drag coefficient is estimated through a newly proposed Drag Scale Factor Estimation (DSFE), and is used for high-precision orbit propagator (HPOP) up to an altitude of 100 km to predict the re-entry time and position of the space object. The effectiveness of this re-entry prediction is shown through the re-entry time window and ground track of space objects falling in real events, Grace-1, Grace-2, Tiangong-1, and Chang Zheng-5B Rocket body. As a result, through analysis 12 hours before the final re-entry time, it is shown that the re-entry time window and crash time can be accurately predicted with an error of less than 20 minutes.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.24-34
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• 2022

This paper investigates the capture of a 12U-sized CubeSat space object using a spider-web structure-based space net. The structural dynamics analysis program ABAQUS is used to simulate the shock-absorbing capability of the space net with a diagonal length of 2.828 m. The space object is modelled as a rigid body, and the space net is modelled using non-linear elastic beam elements. The simulations reveal that the spider-web structure-based space net outperforms the squared space net of the same structural weight in capturing the space object. The numerical simulations are conducted to examine the successful or unsuccessful captures of the space object in various cooperative and non-cooperative motions.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.130.1-130.1
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• 2011

인류의 우주공간에 대한 영향력이 확대됨에 따라, 우주공간에서의 인위적인 활동에 영향을 미칠 수 있는 모든 종류의 상황들에 대한 이해가 최근 전 세계적으로 매우 중요한 이슈로 부상하고 있다. 이를 Space Situational Awareness (SSA)라고 하는데, 특히 근지구공간에서의 인위적, 자연적 우주물체는, 우주발사체의 지속적인 증가와 이리듐-코스모스 위성의 상호 충돌 및 중국 폐기위성 파괴 등과 같은 사건으로 기하급수적으로 증가된 우주물체의 개체수로 인해 대한민국 국적의 모든 위성에도 실제적인 위협 요인으로 대두되고 있다. 이에 기초 기술연구회와 한국천문연구원은 이러한 위협을 국가적으로 해결해야할 과제(National Agenda Project) 중의 하나로 정의하고, 이를 해결하기 위해 우주물체 전자광학 감시체계 기술개발(OWL; Optical Wide-field patroL) 사업을 시작하였다. 이 사업의 목표는 자국위성에 대한 궤도력을 독자적으로 유지할 수 있는 시스템을 개발하는 것이며, 이를 위하여 2011년부터 6년 동안 총 5개소의 해외 관측소에 50cm급 광시야 망원경을 각각 설치하여 자국위성을 자동으로 상시관측하고, 관측된 자료를 이용한 궤도계산을 통하여 독자적으로 궤도력을 유지할 계획이다. 또한, 우주잔해물 감시는 하나의 국가에서 단독으로 할 수 없기 때문에 2m급 우주물체 감시망원경을 개발하여 국제공동으로 진행할 계획이다. 사업 첫해인 2011년 4월 시스템 요구사항 분석을 완료하였고 10월말 시스템 기본설계를 완료할 예정이다. 최종 완성될 소구경 광시야 망원경과 우주물체 감시망원경의 주요 임무는 우주물체 관측이지만, 향후 광시야를 이용한 다양한 탐사천문학에도 기여할 수 있을 것으로 기대한다. 한편, 자국위성에 대한 충돌 위험도 분석 및 회피기동에 관한 연구는 한국항공우주연구원이 이 사업의 협동연구로 참여하고 있다.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.270-278
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• 2014

This paper describes an improvement of space objects orbit prediction. To screen possible collisions between operational satellites and space objects, the TLE (Two-Line Element) was used as pseudo-measurement and than the orbit determination and orbit prediction were performed through the flight dynamics system. For determining the orbits, the state vectors were assumed by a series of TLEs within a certain period. The propagation error was analyzed according to the fitting period and a number of pseudo-observations. In order to find out the improvement of orbit prediction with the proposed method, KOMPSAT-2, 3 having the precise orbit in the meter-level range were first applied. Then the result applied to space objects under the same conditions was analyzed. As a result of the RMS error comparison with the orbit prediction of space object, the precision of orbit prediction was improved by approximately 90% for seven days prediction. The improved orbit prediction of space objects can be utilized in the daily analysis for initial screening of the close space objects at high risk.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.43-57
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• 2023

The hypervelocity impact simulations of space objects and structures are performed using LS-DYNA. Space objects with spherical, conical, and hollow cylindrical shapes are modeled using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH). The direct and indirect impact zones of a space structure are modeled using the SPH and finite element methods, respectively. The Johnson-Cook material model and Mie-Grüneisen Equation of State are used to represent the nonlinear behavior of metallic materials in hypervelocity impact. In the hypervelocity impact simulations, various impact conditions are considered, such as the shape of the space object, the thickness of the space structure, the impact angle, and the impact velocity. The shapes of debris clouds are quantitatively classified based on the geometric parameters. Conical space objects provide the worst debris clouds for all impact conditions.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1826-1834
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• 2021

In this paper, we check the possibility of continuous tracking when photographing unknown space objects in a short period of time in an optical observation system on the ground. Simulated observation data were generated for target limited to low-orbit areas. The performance index of the prediction error was set in consideration of the property of targets. Kalman Filter was applied to predict the next location of the target. A constant velocity/acceleration dynamic model was applied to the two axes of the azimuth/elevation of the unknown space object respectively. As a result of performing the Monte Carlo simulation, the maximum error ratio of the maximum nonlinear section was less than 2%, which could be determined to ensure continuous tracking. The CA model had little change in the prediction error value for each case, making it more suitable for tracking unknown space objects. This analysis could provide a foundation for determining the orbit of unknown space objects using optical observation.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.213.2-213.2
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• 2012

우주물체 전자광학 감시체계는 빠르게 이동하는 우주물체를 지구상에서 신속하고 정확하게 관측할 수 있는 장비이다. 이 체계의 주요 부분인 광학 망원경은 직경 0.5 m의 비구면 주 반사경과 직경이 0.2 m인 비구면 부 반사경 그리고 5매의 보정 렌즈로 구성된 카세그레인 타입의 망원경으로 2도의 광시야를 갖도록 상 분석 및 미광 분석을 통하여 광학적 성능을 최적화하였다. 망원경의 광기계 구조는 설치 환경요소 및 관측 환경 요인으로 인한 광학적 변형을 최소화하도록 설계하였다. 본 논문에서는 우주물체 전자광학 감시체계의 요구조건을 만족하는 광시야 망원경의 광학계 및 광기계 구조 설계를 논의하고자 한다.

• Journal of Space Technology and Applications
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.280-300
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• 2023

This paper includes the development and operational status of the space object collision risk management system operated by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. Currently, it monitors 6 low-orbit satellites and 3 geostationary satellites for collision risks 24 hours, enabling prompt collision avoidance maneuvers to ensure safe and stable operations. Since Chinese anti-satellite test (ASAT) in 2007, the monitoring of collision risks between space objects and operational satellites has been taken seriously, leading to the development of various collision risk management systems to respond quickly and efficiently to such situations. This paper provides an introduction to the space object collision risk management system developed from 2007 to the present, the current status of artificial space objects around Earth, and the system currently in operation. Additionally, it outlines future prospects and plans for the system.

• The Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.2 s.381
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• pp.30-31
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• 2001

UFO는 '미확인물체'라는 뜻이므로 그런 물체는 우주 도처에 얼마든지 있을 수 있다. 그러나 오늘날의 과학이 갖고 있는 한계로는 외계인이 타고 온 비행체일 가능성은 거의 없다. 우주실험실, 우주정거장, 우주공장 등 연구영역을 우주로 확대해 나가고 있는 이 시점에서 우주를 향한 우리 과학자들의 자세를 한번 점검해 보아야 할 것이다.

• Aerospace Engineering and Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.184-192
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• 2014

In this paper, the lifetime of the artificial space objects in the LEO is analysed by using TLE data, which is provided by JSpOC. We observed the change of the number of space objects from 1957 and determined the reason of space debris generation. And then, we performed the analysis about present condition of space debris environment. The lifetime analysis includes a total of 11,792 artificial space objects and performed until the year 2050 by orbit propagation. We analyze the annual reentry frequency for the high RCS objects such as nonoperational satellites and rocket bodies, which have the possibility of earth ground impact through STK/Lifetime Tool for accurate and effective calculation. The results show that 9 payloads or rocket bodies will be decayed annually and 2 or 3 objects of total value have the possibility of ground impact. In addition, it is also shown that the 40% of a total analysed objects have the lifetime over 200 years.