• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2010

To prepare for a Korean lunar orbiter mission, a precise lunar orbit propagator; Yonsei precise lunar orbit propagator (YSPLOP) is developed. In the propagator, accelerations due to the Moon's non-spherical gravity, the point masses of the Earth, Moon, Sun, Mars, Jupiter and also, solar radiation pressures can be included. The developed propagator's performance is validated and propagation errors between YSPOLP and STK/Astrogator are found to have about maximum 4-m, in along-track direction during 30 days (Earth's time) of propagation. Also, it is found that the lifetime of a lunar polar orbiter is strongly affected by the different degrees and orders of the lunar gravity model, by a third body's gravitational attractions (especially the Earth), and by the different orbital inclinations. The reliable lifetime of circular lunar polar orbiter at about 100 km altitude is estimated to have about 160 days (Earth's time). However, to estimate the reasonable lifetime of circular lunar polar orbiter at about 100 km altitude, it is strongly recommended to consider at least $50\;{\times}\;50$ degrees and orders of the lunar gravity field. The results provided in this paper are expected to make further progress in the design fields of Korea's lunar orbiter missions.

• 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.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.199-215
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• 2023

The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), the first South Korea lunar exploration probe, successfully arrived at the Moon on December, 2022 (UTC), following a 4.5-month ballistic lunar transfer (BLT) trajectory. Since the launch (4 August, 2022), the KPLO magnetometer (KMAG) has carried out various observations during the trans-lunar cruise phase and a 100 km altitude lunar polar orbit. KMAG consists of three fluxgate magnetometers capable of measuring magnetic fields within a ± 1,000 nT range with a resolution of 0.2 nT. The sampling rate is 10 Hz. During the originally planned lifetime of one year, KMAG has been operating successfully while performing observations of lunar crustal magnetic fields, magnetic fields induced in the lunar interior, and various solar wind events. The calibration and offset processes were performed during the TLC phase. In addition, reliabilities of the KMAG lunar magnetic field observations have been verified by comparing them with the surface vector mapping (SVM) data. If the KPLO's mission orbit during the extended mission phase is close enough to the lunar surface, KMAG will contribute to updating the lunar surface magnetic field map and will provide insights into the lunar interior structure and lunar space environment.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2011.04a
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• pp.24.4-24.4
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• 2011

Frozen orbit concept is very useful in designing particular mission orbits including the Sun-synchronous and minimum altitude variation orbits. In this work, variety of frozen and Sun-synchronous orbit conditions around the Moon is investigated and analyzed. The first two zonal harmonics of the Moon, J2 and J3, are considered to determine mean orbital elements to be a frozen orbit. To check the long-term behavior of a frozen orbit, formerly developed YonSei Precise Lunar Orbit Propagator (YSPLOP) is used. First, frozen orbit solutions without conditions to be the Sun-synchronous orbit is investigated. Various mean semi-major axes having between ranges from 1,788 km to 1,938 km with inclinations from 30 deg to 150 deg are considered. It is found that a polar orbit (90 deg of inclination) having 100 km of altitude requires the orbital eccentricity of about 0.01975 for a frozen orbit. Also, mean apolune and perilune altitudes for this case is about 136.301 km and 63.694 km, respectively. Second, frozen orbit solutions with additional condition to be the Sun-synchronous orbit is investigated. It is discovered that orbital inclinations are increased from 138.223 deg to 171.553 deg when mean altitude ranged from 50 km to 200 km. For the most usual mission altitude at the Moon (100 km), the Sun-synchronous orbit condition is satisfied with the eccentricity of 0.01124 and 145.235 deg of inclination. For this case, mean apolune and perilune altitudes are found to be about 120.677 km and 79.323 km, respectively. The results analyzed in this work could be useful to design a preliminary mapping orbit as well as to estimate basic on-board payloads' system requirements, for a future Korea's lunar orbiter mission. Other detailed perturbative effects should be considered in the further study, to analyze more accurate frozen orbit conditions at the Moon.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.324-331
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• 2018

The thermal environment on lunar surface is more severe than that of earth's surface or low earth orbit because of the long daytime and nighttime due to 28 days of rotation cycle of moon. Thus, analyzing heat flux on lunar lander at potential landing sites is important to determine the landing site in its initial design phase. In this study, thermal model of lunar regolith that can simulate lunar surface temperature was constructed for analyzing thermal characteristics according to the potential landing sites of lunar lander. The heat flux analyses were performed various latitudes of equator, mid-latitude, polar regions, lunar mare and highland. In addition, we also investigated the heat flux of lunar lander when it is landed on adjacent area to hill.