• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
• /
• v.38 no.7
• /
• pp.684-692
• /
• 2010

Based on the planar restricted three body problem formulation, optimized trajectories for the Earth-Moon transfer are obtained. Mixed impulsive and continuous thrust are assumed to be used, respectively, during the Earth departure and Earth-Moon transfer/Moon capture phases. The continuous, dynamic trajectory optimization problem is reformulated in the form of discrete optimization problem by using the method of direct transcription and collocation, and then is solved using the nonlinear programming software. Representative results show that the shape of optimized trajectory near the Earth departure and the Moon capture phases is dependent upon the relative weight between the impulsive and the continuous thrust.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.195-204
• /
• 2010

The optimal Earth-Moon transfer trajectory considering spacecraft's visibility from the Daejeon ground station visibility at both the trans lunar injection (TLI) and lunar orbit insertion (LOI) maneuvers is designed. Both the TLI and LOI maneuvers are assumed to be impulsive thrust. As the successful execution of the TLI and LOI maneuvers are crucial factors among the various lunar mission parameters, it is necessary to design an optimal lunar transfer trajectory which guarantees the visibility from a specified ground station while executing these maneuvers. The optimal Earth-Moon transfer trajectory is simulated by modifying the Korean Lunar Mission Design Software using Impulsive high Thrust Engine (KLMDS-ITE) which is developed in previous studies. Four different mission scenarios are established and simulated to analyze the effects of the spacecraft's visibility considerations at the TLI and LOI maneuvers. As a result, it is found that the optimal Earth-Moon transfer trajectory, guaranteeing the spacecraft's visibility from Daejeon ground station at both the TLI and LOI maneuvers, can be designed with slight changes in total amount of delta-Vs. About 1% difference is observed with the optimal trajectory when none of the visibility condition is guaranteed, and about 0.04% with the visibility condition is only guaranteed at the time of TLI maneuver. The spacecraft's mass which can delivered to the Moon, when both visibility conditions are secured is shown to be about 534 kg with assumptions of KSLV-2's on-orbit mass about 2.6 tons. To minimize total mission delta-Vs, it is strongly recommended that visibility conditions at both the TLI and LOI maneuvers should be simultaneously implemented to the trajectory optimization algorithm.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
• /
• v.46 no.12
• /
• pp.1028-1036
• /
• 2018

KARI plans to launch Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) to the Moon by December 2020 for the first step of the Korea Lunar Exploration Project. This orbiter will be launched to obtain lunar exploration technologies and science data in advance before launching a main orbiter and a lunar probe. This paper describes the verification of thermal design for the orbiter. It is exposed to more extreme thermal environment than that of low Earth orbit satellite due to the heavy infrared emission of the Moon. Accordingly, a thermal design considering this environment is needed to maintain the temperature of payloads and components equipped in the orbiter within operating temperature range in all orbits. We performed the thermal analysis for Earth-Moon transfer orbit, lunar mission orbit and lunar eclipse required for thermal design verification of the lunar orbiter. As a result, this thermal design met the design requirements.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.293-306
• /
• 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 the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.69-77
• /
• 2012

After lunar explorations were restarted in 1990s, the world space advanced countries have been competing actively to preoccupy the Moon from the 2000s. Korea has been also conducting precedent study on lunar exploration to carry out that by ourselves in 2020. This study analyzed delta-V of various Earth-Moon transfer trajectories for minimization of fuel consumption. Through the simulation, the best Earth-Moon transfer trajectory for Korean lunar mission is suggested and it will be used as useful materials of Korean lunar mission.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.17-23
• /
• 2020

Upper stage of launch vehicle mainly injects a lunar explorer from low earth orbit to the moon at a distance of 380,000 km. In foreign lunar explorer, the upper stage is separated from the explorer after the explorer is injected into the earth-moon transfer trajectory, and the lunar explorer then uses on-board propellant to carry out mid-course correction maneuvers and lunar orbit insertion maneuvers. This study describes a newly presented small liquid upper stage. Using a small liquid upper stage with a wet mass of 2.9 tonnes, the lunar explorer not only can be injected earth-moon transfer trajectory but also can be performed lunar orbit insertion. This study provides acceptable mass range of the lunar explorer and the scope of acceptable mission range also describes based on the launch from Naro Space Center.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.106-116
• /
• 2012

Optimal transfer trajectories based on the planar circular restricted three body problem are designed by using mixed impulsive and continuous thrust. Continuous and dynamic trajectory optimization is reformulated in the form of discrete optimization problem. This is done by the method of direct transcription and collocation. It is then solved by using nonlinear programming software. Two very different transfer trajectories can be obtained by the different combinations of the design parameters. Furthermore, it was found out that all designed trajectories permit a ballistic capture by the Moon's gravity. Finally, the required thrust profiles are presented and they are analyzed in detail.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.68-77
• /
• 2018

In order to analyze the overall characteristics of the lunar orbiter, the Variable Coast method, which can be launched everyday, is applied to the 3.5 phasing loop transfer trajectory. The mission scenario for the entire process from launching to entering the lunar orbit is set up and performed simulation by selecting the launch pad and launch vehicle. In particular, the SEM(Satellite-Earth-Moon) angle defined in Earth-Moon rotating frame is an important constraint to comprehensively evaluate the 3.5 phasing loop transfer trajectory. The simulation using SEM angle is analyzed from various viewpoints such as launch epoch, coast duration, perigee altitude and ${\Delta}V$ not only trans-lunar trajectory but lunar orbit insertions and the optimum SEM angle is suggested in this study. It is expected that this results will be helpful to evaluate the characteristics of the 3.5 phasing loop transfer trajectory according to the launch vehicle selection by comparison with Fixed Coast analysis results in the future.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.171-186
• /
• 2009

Various Earth-Moon transfer trajectories are designed and analyzed to prepare the future Korea's Lunar missions. Minimum fuel trajectory solutions are obtained for the departure year of 2017, 2020, 2022, and every required mission phases are analyzed from Earth departure to the final lunar mission orbit. N-body equations of motion are formulated which include the gravitational effect of the Sun, Earth and Moon. In addition, accelerations due to geopotential harmonics, Lunar J2 and solar radiation pressures are considered. Impulsive high thrust is assumed as the main thrusting method of spacecraft with launcher capability of KSLV-2 which is planned to be developed. For the method of injecting a spacecraft into a trans Lunar trajectory, both direct shooting from circular parking orbit and shooting from the multiple elliptical intermediate orbits are adapted, and their design results are compared and analyzed. In addition, spacecraft's visibility from Deajeon ground station are constrained to see how they affect the magnitude of TLI(Trans Lunar Injection) maneuver. The results presented in this paper includes launch opportunities, required optimal maneuver characteristics for each mission phase as well as the trajectory characteristics and numerous related parameters. It is confirmed that the final mass of Korean lunar explorer strongly depends onto the initial parking orbit's altitude and launcher's capability, rather than mission start time.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.47-47
• /
• 2003

Analytical formulae are presented to approximate the evolution of the semi major axis, the maneuver time, and the final mass fraction for low thrust orbital transfers with circular initial orbit, circular target orbit, and constant thrust directed either always along or always opposite the velocity vector. For comparison, the associated results for high-thrust transfers, i.e. the two-impulse Hohmann transfer, are summarized. All results are implemented in a computer code designed to analyze planar planetary and interplanetary space missions. This implementation yields fast and reasonably accurate approximations to trajectory performance boundaries. Consequently, the approach can provide trajectory analysis for each spacecraft configuration during the conceptual space mission design phase. As an example, a mission from Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) to Jupiter's moon Europa is analyzed.