• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.295-308
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• 2018

In this study, orbit determination (OD) simulation for the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) was accomplished for investigation of the observational arc-length effect using a sequential estimation algorithm. A lunar polar orbit located at 100 km altitude and $90^{\circ}$ inclination was mainly considered for the KPLO mission operation phase. For measurement simulation and OD for KPLO, the Analytical Graphics Inc. Systems Tool Kit 11 and Orbit Determination Tool Kit 6 software were utilized. Three deep-space ground stations, including two deep space network (DSN) antennas and the Korea Deep Space Antenna, were configured for the OD simulation. To investigate the arc-length effect on OD, 60-hr, 48-hr, 24-hr, and 12-hr tracking data were prepared. Position uncertainty by error covariance and orbit overlap precision were used for OD performance evaluation. Additionally, orbit prediction (OP) accuracy was also assessed by the position difference between the estimated and true orbits. Finally, we concluded that the 48-hr-based OD strategy is suitable for effective flight dynamics operation of KPLO. This work suggests a useful guideline for the OD strategy of KPLO mission planning and operation during the nominal lunar orbits phase.

• 한국항공우주학회지
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.309-318
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• 2019

한국형 달 궤도선(Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter, KPLO)에 탑재되는 달 표면지형 광학관측기(Lunar Terrian Imager, LUTI)의 열설계를 수행하고, 열해석을 통하여 열설계의 건전성을 검증하였다. 달 임무궤도의 열환경은 지구궤도와 달리 달 표면의 IR 복사가 중요하므로 이를 열설계에 반영하여야 한다. 위성 외부에 노출되는 부품이나 모듈은 가능한 MLI로 단열시키지만 경통이나 방열판은 기능상 노출되므로 복사형상계수의 개념을 이용한 thermal shield를 전면에 장착함으로써 IR 복사를 완화시킨다. 태양복사를 거의 받지 않는 방열판의 전면부는 IR 방사율이 중요하며, 경통과 같이 열변형에 취약한 부품은 복사히터를 사용하여 온도구배를 최소화시킨다. 열해석 결과분석을 통하여 LUTI의 열설계는 다양한 상황에서 안정적임을 확인하였다.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.237-247
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• 2020

The ground tracking support is a critical factor for the navigation performance of spacecraft orbiting around the Moon. Because of the tracking limit of antennas, only a small number of facilities can support lunar missions. Therefore, case studies for various ground tracking support conditions are needed for lunar missions on the stage of preliminary mission analysis. This study analyzes the ground supporting condition effect on orbit determination (OD) of Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) in the lunar orbit. For the assumption of ground support conditions, daily tracking frequency, cut-off angle for low elevation, tracking measurement accuracy, and tracking failure situations were considered. Two antennas of deep space network (DSN) and Korea Deep Space Antenna (KDSA) are utilized for various tracking conditions configuration. For the investigation of the daily tracking frequency effect, three cases (full support, DSN 4 pass/day and KDSA 4 pass/day, and DSN 2 pass/day and KDSA 2 pass/day) are prepared. For the elevation cut-off angle effect, two situations, which are 5 deg and 10 deg, are assumed. Three cases (0%, 30%, and 50% of degradation) were considered for the tracking measurement accuracy effect. Three cases such as no missing, 1-day KDSA missing, and 2-day KDSA missing are assumed for tracking failure effect. For OD, a sequential estimation algorithm was used, and for the OD performance evaluation, position uncertainty, position differences between true and estimated orbits, and orbit overlap precision according to various ground supporting conditions were investigated. Orbit prediction accuracy variations due to ground tracking conditions were also demonstrated. This study provides a guideline for selecting ground tracking support levels and preparing a backup plan for the KPLO lunar mission phase.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.213-223
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• 2017

The deep space orbit determination software (DSODS) is a part of a flight dynamic subsystem (FDS) for the Korean Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), a lunar exploration mission expected to launch after 2018. The DSODS consists of several sub modules, of which the orbit determination (OD) module employs a weighted least squares algorithm for estimating the parameters related to the motion and the tracking system of the spacecraft, and subroutines for performance improvement and detailed analysis of the orbit solution. In this research, DSODS is demonstrated and validated at lunar orbit at an altitude of 100 km using actual Lunar Prospector tracking data. A set of a priori states are generated, and the robustness of DSODS to the a priori error is confirmed by the NASA planetary data system (PDS) orbit solutions. Furthermore, the accuracy of the orbit solutions is determined by solution comparison and overlap analysis as about tens of meters. Through these analyses, the ability of the DSODS to provide proper orbit solutions for the KPLO are proved.

• 천문학회보
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.89.2-89.2
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• 2017

Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) is a first Korean Lunar exploration mission. KPLO is equipped with four payloads in Korea and one payload in United States. KMAG is one of Korean payloads to measure the Moon's magnetic field. Moon has a no dipole magnetic field such as earth's global magnetic field. But there are many curious crustal magnetic anomalies. these features still do not well understood. This is a main scientific objective of KMAG payload and the study of space environment around moon is a second objective. KMAG has three magnetometers which are mounted in the edge of the 1.2 meter boom. This paper shows a KMAG's requirements, instrument description, and a preliminary function test results.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.149-171
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• 2023

ShadowCam is a National Aeronautics and Space Administration Advanced Exploration Systems funded instrument hosted onboard the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) satellite. By collecting high-resolution images of permanently shadowed regions (PSRs), ShadowCam will provide critical information about the distribution and accessibility of water ice and other volatiles at spatial scales (1.7 m/pixel) required to mitigate risks and maximize the results of future exploration activities. The PSRs never see direct sunlight and are illuminated only by light reflected from nearby topographic highs. Since secondary illumination is very dim, ShadowCam was designed to be over 200 times more sensitive than previous imagers like the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera Narrow Angle Camera (LROC NAC). ShadowCam images thus allow for unprecedented views into the shadows, but saturate while imaging sunlit terrain.

• 한국항공우주학회지
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• 제46권12호
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• pp.1028-1036
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• 2018

한국항공우주연구원은 달 탐사 프로젝트 1단계로 시험용 달 궤도선을 2020년 12월에 발사할 계획이다. 시험용 궤도선은 본 궤도선과 착륙선을 발사하기 이전에 미리 달 탐사 기술 확보 및 과학 데이터를 획득하기 위해 발사된다. 본 논문은 궤도선의 열설계 검증에 관한 내용을 기술하고 있다. 달 궤도선은 달의 많은 적외선 복사 때문에 지구 저궤도 위성보다 극한의 열 환경에 노출된다. 따라서 이를 고려한 열설계를 하여 궤도선 탑재 장비들의 온도를 모든 궤도에서 허용온도 범위 내로 유지해야 한다. 이를 위해 달 궤도선 열설계 검증에 필요한 지구-달 전이 궤도, 달 임무 궤도, 월식 기간에 대한 열해석을 수행하였으며, 해석 결과를 바탕으로 궤도선의 열설계가 설계 요구조건을 만족하는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.43-60
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• 2024

Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) is South Korea's first space exploration mission, developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. It aims to develop technologies for lunar exploration, explore lunar science, and test new technologies. KPLO was launched on August 5, 2022, by a Falcon-9 launch vehicle from cape canaveral space force station (CCSFS) in the United States and placed on a ballistic lunar transfer (BLT) trajectory. A total of four trajectory correction maneuvers were performed during the approximately 4.5-month trans-lunar cruise phase to reach the Moon. Starting with the first lunar orbit insertion (LOI) maneuver on December 16, the spacecraft performed a total of three maneuvers before arriving at the lunar mission orbit, at an altitude of 100 kilometers, on December 27, 2022. After entering lunar orbit, the commissioning phase validated the operation of the mission mode, in which the payload is oriented toward the center of the Moon. After completing about one month of commissioning, normal mission operations began, and each payload successfully performed its planned mission. All of the spacecraft operations that KPLO performs from launch to normal operations were designed through the system operations design process. This includes operations that are automatically initiated post-separation from the launch vehicle, as well as those in lunar transfer orbit and lunar mission orbit. Key operational procedures such as the spacecraft's initial checkout, trajectory correction maneuvers, LOI, and commissioning were developed during the early operation preparation phase. These procedures were executed effectively during both the early and normal operation phases. The successful execution of these operations confirms the robust verification of the system operation.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.331-342
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• 2017

To ensure the successful launch of the Korea pathfinder lunar orbiter (KPLO) mission, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) is now performing extensive trajectory design and analysis studies. From the trajectory design perspective, it is crucial to prepare contingency trajectory options for the failure of the first lunar brake or the failure of the first lunar orbit insertion (LOI) maneuver. As part of the early phase trajectory design and analysis activities, the required time of flight (TOF) and associated delta-V magnitudes for each recovery maneuver (RM) to recover the KPLO mission trajectory are analyzed. There are two typical trajectory recovery options, direct recovery and low energy recovery. The current work is focused on the direct recovery option. Results indicate that a quicker execution of the first RM after the failure of the first LOI plays a significant role in saving the magnitudes of the RMs. Under the conditions of the extremely tight delta-V budget that is currently allocated for the KPLO mission, it is found that the recovery of the KPLO without altering the originally planned mission orbit (a 100 km circular orbit) cannot be achieved via direct recovery options. However, feasible recovery options are suggested within the boundaries of the currently planned delta-V budget. By changing the shape and orientation of the recovered final mission orbit, it is expected that the KPLO mission may partially pursue its scientific mission after successful recovery, though it will be limited.

• 한국추진공학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.96-103
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• 2019

본 연구에서는 지상 시험과 수치해석을 비교하여 시험용 달 궤도선의 추진제 공급부 설계 검증을 하고자 한다. 비행 모델의 유동 흐름을 모사할 수 있는 지상 시험용 검증 모델을 제작하고 있으며, 지상 시험용 검증 모델과 비교하기 위한 항목을 배관 내 전체 압력 강하량, 추력기 밸브 구동에 의한 수격현상 그리고 유량 제어 및 수격현상 완화를 위한 오리피스 장착의 세 가지로 선정하였다. 해석 결과를 향후 지상 시험 결과와 비교하여 최종적으로 설계 확정을 위한 근거 자료를 확보하고자 한다.