• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.165-173
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• 2007

A space launch vehicle system represents a typical example of large-scale multi-disciplinary systems, consisting of subsystems such as mechanical structure, electronics, control, telecommunication, propulsion, material engineering etc. A lot of cost is required to develop the launch vehicle system. A precise planning of R&D cost is very essential to make a success of the launch vehicle development program. Especially in the early development phase of a new space launch vehicle system, cost estimation techniques and analogy from past similar development data are very useful methods to estimate a development cost of the launch vehicle system. Now Korea Aerospace Research Institute is in charge of the KSLV-I (Korea Space Launch Vehicle-I) Program that is a part of Korea National Space program. KSLV-I Program is a national undertaking to develop launch capabilities to deliver science satellites of a 100kg-class into a low earth orbit. It is hereafter, going to plan to develop a new korean space launch vehicle. In this paper, first the development costs of well-known launch vehicles in the world are presented to provide a reference to make a development plan of a new launch vehicle. Second this paper introduces the present status of cost estimation applications at NASA. Finally this paper presents the results from application of a TRANSCOST, a parametric cost model, to derive a cost estimate of a new launch vehicle development, as an example.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.1069-1075
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• 2017

With the recent development of space technology, the satellite market, especially the small satellite market, is growing globally. As the satellite market continues to grow, the launch vehicle market is also growing, and demand for low-cost launches is increasing. There are a number of options for low-cost launches, including development of engine that uses low-cost propellants, product and transportation cost savings, but the most effective way to reduce launch costs is to reuse the used launch vehicles. USA's Space Shuttle, a famous rocket as manned spacecraft, could be referred as the start of reusable launch vehicle. However, Space Shuttle had limited reusable parts and it was very expensive even though it is a reusable launch vehicle because of its low efficiency. In recent years, aiming at a real reusable launch vehicle, reusable launch vehicle for commercial purposes have been developed around USA's SpaceX and Blue Origin, and re-landing tests were successfully accomplished. In addition, SpaceX successfully did the re-using of first-stage launch vehicle that had been succeeded in re-landing already. In accordance with this trend, countries such as Europe and India are also concentrating on the study of reusable launch vehicles. Including Blue Origin, companies like Virgin Galactic and XCOR in the United States, are also trying to commercialize the same reusable technology as the private manned space tourism. Confirmation of these technology trends is essential, because the re-use technology could change the landscape of the global launch vehicle market.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.45 no.10
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• pp.855-862
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• 2017

Due to the weight reduction and miniaturization of satellites, there is a growing interest in low-cost launch vehicles, which are cheaper to launch than larger launch vehicles. One of the most cost-effective ways to reduce the cost of launch vehicles is the reuse of vehicles. Most companies that are developing low cost launch vehicles are also adopting a vehicles reuse approach. Along with this reuse purpose, the demand for environmentally friendly space launch vehicles has increased, so the choice of fuel used for low cost launch vehicles has also become very important. Methane and hydrogen-enriched compressed natural gas (HCNG), which makes more energy-efficient by adding hydrogen to methane, are considered to be the most suitable when considering other factors such as energy density among the fuels that are eco-friendly and capable of reusing the launch vehicles. This study investigated the trends of low-cost launch vehicle and rocket fuel in the world as a reference for setting up domestic space development after the development of Korea Space Launch Vehicle-II.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.277-285
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• 2022

There has been significant increase in demand of launch opportunities from the small satellite sector that represents the new space era. Providing smallsat-dedicated launch service at an affordable price is a new business model many startup companies have pursued, which requires innovative solutions for cost reduction in combination of low cost components, volume production and optimized manufacturing. We set out a preceding study at KARI to develop a suite of critical and cost-cutting technologies in preparation for a two-staged small launch vehicle development, based on the liquid rocket engine technologies developed from the Nuri program in accordance with the 3^rd master plan for national space development. In this work, we introduce the concept of a two-staged small launch vehicle that aims to be innovative and cost competitive for small satellites, and describe mission design results including staging as well as overall vehicle configuration of the launch vehicle.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.48-54
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• 2020

Low cost launch vehicle for next-generation is underway in advanced space countries such as the United States, Europe, Japan and China. This paper surveys the latest technological trends in avionics system, including ground management system. In the case of on-board equipment, to make short the development period and reduce the cost, the equipment is standardized and modularized for each functions to flexibly respond to changes in system requirements. In addition, a network is applied to all inter-equipment interfaces and a powerful self-diagnostic function is included in the equipment to realize automation/simplification of the interface with the ground system, and it is confirmed that an efficient launcher system is realized.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.558-565
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• 2017

Recently, there has been a tendency to lead the private sector in the launch vehicle market, and as the market has become saturated, efforts are being made to reduce the launch cost. Advanced countries in space development have promoted manned long-range space exploration plans. As oxygen/methane is more efficient, lower cost, and eco-friendly than typical propellants, and can be produced locally on an alien planet, it is the most suitable next-generation propellant to meet this trend. Now methane engine development is accelerating due to changes in international conditions and corporate environment. It is also expected to develop a methane engine in order to survive in this global trend and to keep up with the launch vehicle market in the future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.201-212
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• 2012

In general solid propulsion offers cost effective, large thrust capabilities comparing to the liquid propulsion which offers high specific impulse and restart capabilities. Therefore solid propulsion is well fitted for the first stage and boosters. BBL approach has been studied for the launch vehicle because of cost effectiveness, limited development time and low risk. Using of the carbon fiber epoxy resin in the solid rocket motor case is expanded, and specially high strength fibers are more attracted since its inert mass reduction.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.139-155
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• 2016

Present paper introduces the recent advances in space launch vehicle technologies. A brief survey is given for the space development programs in civil sector with their business model and key technologies. Advances in key technologies were reviewed in detail with more emphasis on the electric pump cycle engine for low cost high performance small launch vehicle, Electron, under development by Rocketlab Ltd., since their contributions would give good lessons for rocket scientists.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.131-136
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• 2018

Research on space development and satellites is being actively pursued. An interesting field is the study of reliable low-cost space launch vehicles. Since chemical fuel-based launching systems are expensive and take a lot of time and cost to maintain, the EML system, which is an electromagnetic force launching apparatus, is attracting attention. The EML system converts electrical energy stored in a capacitor into magnetic energy, and converts magnetic energy into mechanical kinetic energy, thereby accelerating the projectile. Although studies are actively conducted in the field, it is difficult to solve the equation because the impedance and speedance change with time and the nonlinearity is strong. Many researchers have solved this equation in a variety of methods. In this paper, the velocity analysis of the projectile was carried out by FEM (finite element method) using the commercial electromagnetic analysis program MAXWELL.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.106-113
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• 2018

The Intense acoustic wave generated by the jet flame at the lift-off causes the vehicle to vibrate in the form of acoustic loads. The DSM-II(Distributing Source Method-II), which is a representative empirical acoustic loads prediction method, is a method of distributing a noise source along a jet flame axis and has advantages in calculation cost and accuracy. However, due to the limitation of the distributing method, there is a limit to accurately reflect the various launch pad configurations. In this study, acoustic loads prediction method which can freely distribute noise sources is studied. by introducing NURBS(Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline) modeling into empirical prediction method. For the verification of the newly introduced analytical technique of the NURBS, the acoustic loads prediction for the Epsilon rocket's low-noise launch pad shape was performed and the results of the analysis were compared with the existing prediction methods and experimental results.