• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.293-306
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• 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 Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.323-333
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• 2016

In this study, the uncertainty requirements for orbit, attitude, and burn performance were estimated and analyzed for the execution of the $1^{st}$ lunar orbit insertion (LOI) maneuver of the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) mission. During the early design phase of the system, associate analysis is an essential design factor as the $1^{st}$ LOI maneuver is the largest burn that utilizes the onboard propulsion system; the success of the lunar capture is directly affected by the performance achieved. For the analysis, the spacecraft is assumed to have already approached the periselene with a hyperbolic arrival trajectory around the moon. In addition, diverse arrival conditions and mission constraints were considered, such as varying periselene approach velocity, altitude, and orbital period of the capture orbit after execution of the $1^{st}$ LOI maneuver. The current analysis assumed an impulsive LOI maneuver, and two-body equations of motion were adapted to simplify the problem for a preliminary analysis. Monte Carlo simulations were performed for the statistical analysis to analyze diverse uncertainties that might arise at the moment when the maneuver is executed. As a result, three major requirements were analyzed and estimated for the early design phase. First, the minimum requirements were estimated for the burn performance to be captured around the moon. Second, the requirements for orbit, attitude, and maneuver burn performances were simultaneously estimated and analyzed to maintain the $1^{st}$ elliptical orbit achieved around the moon within the specified orbital period. Finally, the dispersion requirements on the B-plane aiming at target points to meet the target insertion goal were analyzed and can be utilized as reference target guidelines for a mid-course correction (MCC) maneuver during the transfer. More detailed system requirements for the KPLO mission, particularly for the spacecraft bus itself and for the flight dynamics subsystem at the ground control center, are expected to be prepared and established based on the current results, including a contingency trajectory design plan.

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

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.35 no.4
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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.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.25.3-26
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• 2008

The direct way to the moon is to start from the parking orbit by using impulsive thruster In previous domestic research, the direct way has been studied by using a single impulsive shot. However, when a single impulsive shot occurs to go into a Translunar orbit, gravity losses occur because thruster is not impulsive shot but the finite burns and it causes the gravity losses. To make up for the weak point of a single impulsive shot, this paper divides TLI (Trans Lunar Injection) into several small burns. Therefore, departure loop trajectory and the Translunar trajectory. This method is useful not only to reduce the gravity losses but also to check the condition of satellite. By using this method, this paper demostrates the optimized trajectory from Earth parking orbit to lunar mission orbit which minimizes the fuel, and the SNOPT (Sparse Nonlinear OPTimizer software) is used to find optimal solution. Also, this paper provides lunar mission profile which includes the mission schedule when TLI, LOI (Lunar Orbit Insertion) maneuvers occur, a mount of fuel when thruster is used and other mission parameters.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.867-875
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• 2022

The preliminary mission analysis of a lunar lander, which is mounted on the upper stage of a Korean space launch vehicle, is performed when landing on the moon through a trans-lunar injection maneuver after being injected into the earth's low orbit by th launcher in this paper. Both direct landing and orbital landing methods, which have each advantage and disadvantages, are applied and their transfer orbit characteristics are analyzed according to the launch date when launching in lunar October 2030. We also analyzed the launch dates which satisfying eclipse conditions, solar elevation conditions, and tracking time intervals such as the US lunar lander Surveyor-1. The obtained results show that the most appropriate launch date is the 4th day of lunar October in case of direct landing method, and the 3rd day in case of indirect landing method, since the argument of perigee of the trans-lunar injection orbit and eclipse conditions are favorable in the dates.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.433-447
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• 2022

This work deals with an explicit guidance and control architecture for autonomous lunar ascent and orbit injection, i.e., the locally-flat near-optimal guidance, accompanied by nonlinear reduced-attitude control. This is a new explicit guidance scheme, based on the local projection of the position and velocity variables, in conjunction with the real-time solution of the associated minimum-time problem. A recently-introduced quaternion-based reduced-attitude control algorithm, which enjoys quasi-global stability properties, is employed to drive the longitudinal axis of the ascent vehicle toward the desired direction. Actuation, based on thrust vectoring, is modeled as well. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations prove the effectiveness of the guidance, control, and actuation architecture proposed in this study for precise lunar orbit insertion, in the presence of nonnominal flight conditions.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.34 no.4
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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.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.240-252
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• 2016

In this paper, an on-board orbit propagator and compressing trajectory method based on B-spline for a lunar explorer are proposed. An explorer should recognize its own orbit for a successful mission operation. Generally, orbit determination is periodically performed at the ground station, and the computed orbit information is subsequently uploaded to the explorer, which would generate a heavy workload for the ground station and the explorer. A high-performance computer at the ground station is employed to determine the orbit required for the explorer in the parking orbit of Earth. The method not only reduces the workload of the ground station and the explorer, but also increases the orbital prediction accuracy. Then, the data was compressed into coefficients within a given tolerance using B-spline. The compressed data is then transmitted to the explorer efficiently. The data compression is maximized using the proposed methods. The methods are compared with a fifth order polynomial regression method. The results show that the proposed method has the potential for expansion to various deep space probes.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.41 no.1
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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.