• 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.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.195-204
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• 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 Satellite, Information and Communications
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.50-56
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• 2010

Most mission trajectory design technologies for space exploration have been utilized the Patched Conic Approximation which is based on Hohmann transfer in two-body problem. The Hohmann transfer trajectory is basically an elliptic trajectory, and Patched Conic Approximation consists of Hohmann transfer trajectories in which each trajectory are patched to the next one. This technology is the most efficient method when considering only one major planet at each patch trajectory design. The disadvantages of the conventional Patched Conic Approach are more fuel (or mass) needed and only conic trajectories are designed. Recent space exploration missions need to satisfy more various scientific or engineering goals, and mission utilizing smaller satellites are needed for cost reduction. The geometrical characteristics of three-body dynamics could change the paradigm of the conventional solar system. In this theoretical concept, one can design a trajectory connecting around the solar system with comparably very small energy. In this paper, the basic three-body dynamics are introduced and a spacecraft mission trajectory is designed utilizing the three-body dynamics.

• Aerospace Engineering and Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.91-98
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• 2008

Since the 1st space race between the United States and Soviet Union during the 1960s, we are competing 2nd space race to occupy the Lunar territory. Since the United States announced to construct the Lunar Base by the end of 2020, ED, Japan, and China launched Lunar explorers successfully. Even India is planning to launch a Lunar explorer in 2008. Korean government also announced that the Korea will launch first Lunar explorer in 2020. In this research Lunar mission trajectory design which will be fundamental data for Lunar mission with variable low thrust and Lunar mission trajectory which has a similar mission specification to SMART-1 are presented.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2004.10b
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• pp.285-289
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• 2004

An optimal interplanetary trajectory is presented for Human Outer Planet Exploration (HOPE) by using an advanced magnetoplasma spacecraft. A detailed optimization approach is formulated to utilize Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) engine with capabilities of variable specific impulse, variable engine efficiency, and engine on-off control. To design a round-trip trajectory for the mission, the characteristics of the spacecraft and its trajectories are analyzed. It is mainly illustrated that 30 MW powered spacecraft can make the mission possible in five-year round trip constraint around year 2045. The trajectories obtained in this study can be used for formulating an overall concept for the mission.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.105-117
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• 2021

In this study, a preliminary trajectory design is conducted for a conceptual spacecraft mission to a near-Earth asteroid (NEA) (99942) Apophis, which is expected to pass by Earth merely 32,000 km from the Earth's surface in 2029. This close approach event will provide us with a unique opportunity to study changes induced in asteroids during close approaches to massive bodies, as well as the general properties of NEAs. The conceptual mission is set to arrive at and rendezvous with Apophis in 2028 for an advanced study of the asteroid, and some near-optimal (in terms of fuel consumption) trajectories under this mission architecture are to be investigated using a global optimization algorithm called monotonic basin hopping. It is shown that trajectories with a single swing-by from Venus or Earth, or even simpler ones without gravity assist, are the most feasible. In addition, launch opportunities in 2029 yield another possible strategy of leaving Earth around the 2029 close approach event and simply following the asteroid thereafter, which may be an alternative fuel-efficient option that can be adopted if advanced studies of Apophis are not required.

• Aerospace Engineering and Technology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.108-116
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• 2009

This paper considers the trajectory design problem for a lunar orbiter when launched by KSLV-II. KSLV-II puts its kick motor stage and lunar orbiter into a low earth orbit, and then the kick motor stage performed the translunar injection. To simulate more realistic situations, TLI (Trans-Lunar Injection) and LOI (Lunar Orbit Injection) maneuvers are modeled as finite burns. The feasibility of the lunar mission by KSLV-II are confirmed by the numerical results that show the reasonable required-velocity and propellant usage.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.271-290
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• 2020

The paper describes the analysis of deployment strategies and trajectories design suitable for executing the inspection of an operative spacecraft in orbit through re-usable CubeSats. Similar missions have been though indeed, and one mission recently flew from the International Space Station. However, it is important to underline that the inspection of an operative spacecraft in orbit features some peculiar characteristics which have not been demonstrated by any mission flown to date. The most critical aspects of the CubeSat inspection mission stem from safety issues and technology availability in the following areas: trajectory design and motion control of the inspector relative to the target, communications architecture, deployment and retrieval of the inspector, and observation needs. The objectives of the present study are 1) the identification of requirements applicable to the deployment of a nanosatellite from the mother-craft, which is also the subject of the inspection, and 2) the identification of solutions for the trajectories to be flown along the mission phases. The mission for the in-situ observation of Space Rider is proposed as reference case, but the conclusions are applicable to other targets such as the ISS, and they might also be useful for missions targeted at debris inspection.

• 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 of Systems Engineering
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2005

Design and optimization study has been performed to obtain a supersonic air.launching mission for the nanosat launcher. Given mission is to launch 10kg payload to target orbit of $700km{\times}700km$. Additional design constraints are imposed by the mother plane. After the required velocity is obtained, the stag ing optimization is carried out. Serial analyses for the propulsion system and aerodynamics are performed then, the rocket trajectory optimization has been carried out. After several mission design and optimization iterations, the optimized mission which satisfies the mission target is obtained. Total weight of the three-staged air-launching rocket is 1231.4kg and the payload weight is 10 kg.