• 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.40 no.4
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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.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.37 no.4
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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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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 2023

On Aug. 4, 2022, at 23:08:48 (UTC), the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), also known as Danuri, was launched using a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle. Currently, KPLO is successfully conducting its science mission around the Moon. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Deep Space Network (DSN) was utilized for the successful flight operation of KPLO. A great deal of joint effort was made between the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and NASA DSN team since the beginning of KPLO ground system design for the success of the mission. The efficient utilization and management of NASA DSN in deep space exploration are critical not only for the spacecraft's telemetry and command but also for tracking the flight dynamics (FD) operation. In this work, the top-level DSN interface architecture, detailed workflows, DSN support levels, and practical lessons learned from the joint team's efforts are presented for KPLO's successful FD operation. Due to the significant joint team's efforts, KPLO is currently performing its mission smoothly in the lunar mission orbit. Through KPLO cooperative operation experience with DSN, a more reliable and efficient partnership is expected not only for Korea's own deep space exploration mission but also for the KARI-NASA DSN joint support on other deep space missions in the future.

• Journal of Space Technology and Applications
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.49-63
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• 2021

The exploration of the solar system is carried out through various payloads, and accordingly, many research results are emerging. We tried to apply deep-learning as a method of studying the bodies of solar system. Unlike Earth observation satellite data, the data of solar system differ greatly from celestial bodies to probes and to payloads of each probe. Therefore, it may be difficult to apply it to various data with the deep-learning model, but we expect that it will be able to reduce human errors or compensate for missing parts. We have implemented a model that detects craters on the lunar surface. A model was created using the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) image and the provided shapefile as input values, and applied to the lunar surface image. Although the result was not satisfactory, it will be applied to the image of the permanently shadow regions of the Moon, which is finally acquired by ShadowCam through image pre-processing and model modification. In addition, by attempting to apply it to Ceres and Mercury, which have similar the lunar surface, it is intended to suggest that deep-learning is another method for the study of the solar system.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.199-208
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• 2020

This paper presents a kinematic ephemeris generator for Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) and its performance test results. The kinematic ephemeris generator consists of a ground ephemeris compressor and an onboard ephemeris calculator. The ground ephemeris compressor has to compress desired orbit propagation data by using an interpolation method in a ground system. The onboard ephemeris calculator can generate spacecraft ephemeris and the Sun/Moon ephemeris in onboard computer of the KPLO. Among many interpolation methods, polynomial interpolation with uniform node, Chebyshev interpolation, Hermite interpolation are tested for their performances. As a result of the test, it is shown that all the methods have some cases that meet requirements but there are some performance differences. It is also confirmed that, the Chebyshev interpolation shows better performance than other methods for spacecraft ephemeris generation, and the polynomial interpolation with uniform nodes yields good performance for the Sun/Moon ephemeris generation. Based on these results, a Kinematic ephemeris generator is developed for the KPLO mission. Then, the developed ephemeris generator can find an approximating function using interpolation method considering the size and accuracy of the data to be transmitted.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.1136-1143
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• 2010

One-way laser ranging technology is applied for the precise orbit determination of LRO, which is the first trial for supporting the missions of lunar or planetary spacecraft. In this paper, LRO payload and ground system are discussed for LRO laser ranging, and some errors effecting on time of flight and tracking mount accuracy are analyzed. Additionally several technologies are also analyzed to make laser pulses shot from ground stations to arrive in the LRO earth window. Measurement data of LRO laser ranging verified that these technologies could be implemented for one-way laser ranging of lunar spacecraft.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.35-40
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• 2016

Mid-course correction maneuvers (MCCMs) are necessary to correct the launch-vehicle dispersion to go to the Moon. There were 3 or 4 MCCMs needed for a direct transfer trajectory. But the strategy for MCCMs of the phasing-loop trajectory is different, because it has a longer trans-lunar trajectory than direct transfer does. An orbiter using a phasing-loop trajectory has several rotations of the Earth, so the orbiter has several good places, such as perigee and apogee, to correct the launch-vehicle dispersion. Although launch dispersion is relatively high, the launch vehicle is not as accurate as we expected. A good MCCM strategy can overcome the high dispersion by using small-magnitude correction maneuvers. This paper describes the phasing-loops sequence and strategy to correct high launch-vehicle dispersions.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.208-216
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• 2014

Ground station in lunar mission is responsible to receive telemetry signal including sensor data from lunar orbiter and/or lander. At preliminary stage of developing this ground station, receiving performance such as antenna size and noise temperature should be designed on the basis of link budget analysis. When the antenna of ground station is pointing to the moon to communicate with lunar orbiter and/or lander, noise level is supposed to be increasing due to the lunar flux density. It means that the moon is working as a noise source to degrade receiving performance when antenna is pointing to the moon. Antenna noise temperature contributed by the moon was firstly calculated and secondary validated by using test configuration in this paper. Consequently, it was shown that antenna noise temperature caused by the moon was quietly matched with measured one and G/T degradation of receiving system in lunar mission can be calculated depending on antenna size and frequency.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.55.3-55.3
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• 2019

우리나라 최초의 우주탐사 프로그램인 Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO)는 1년의 임무기간동안 달과 달 주변의 우주환경에 대한 과학탐사 임무를 수행할 예정이다. 이를 위해서 1개에 기술 검증장비와 고해상도 카메라를 포함한 5개의 과학장비를 탑재할 예정이다. 이 중 고해상도 카메라인 LUTI(LUnar Terrain Imager)와 국내에서 개발한 3개의 과학탑재체(KGRS;감마선분광기, KMAG;자기장측정기, PolCam;광시야 편광카메라)가 획득한 과학자료는 일정기간(통상 1년)동안 비공개로 검보정이 이루어진 후 일반에게 공개(Public release)할 예정이다. 이러한 과학자료의 공개와 관리를 위해서 한국항공우주연구원은 KPLO 심우주 지상시스템 내에 과학자료의 공개 및 관리를 위한 KARI Planetary Data System(KPDS)을 개발하고 있다. KPDS는 미국 NASA의 PDS에서 개발하여 유럽, 일본 등에서 이미 행성탐사 과학자료의 표준으로 활용하고 있는 PDS4 표준을 준수하는 과학자료를 제공할 것이다. 본 발표를 통해서 KPDS의 운영개념과 과학자료 관리계획, 그리고 KPDS의 개발현황을 천문학계와 공유하여 KPLO에 의해서 획득된 과학자료가 많은 과학자들이 활용하여 높은 과학적 성과를 낼 수 있기를 기대한다.