• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.195-208
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• 2024

As human exploration goals shift from missions in low Earth orbit (LEO) to long-duration interplanetary missions, radiation protection remains one of the key technological issues that must be resolved. The low Earth orbit space radiation dosimeter (LEO-DOS) instrument to measure radiation levels and create a global dose map in the LEO on board the the next generation small satellite-2 (NEXTSat-2) was launched successfully on May 25, 2023 using the Nuri KSLV-III in Korea. The NEXTSat-2 orbits the Earth every 100 minutes, in an orbit with an inclination of 97.8° and an altitude of about 550 km above sea level. The LEO-DOS is equipped with a particle dosimeter (PD) and a neutron spectrometer (NS), which enable the measurement of dosimetric quantities such as absorbed dose (D), dose equivalent (H) for charged particles and neutrons. To verify the observations of LEO-DOS, we conducted a radiation dose estimation study based on the initial results of LEO-DOS, measured from June 2023 to September 2023. The study considered four source categories: (i) galactic cosmic ray particles; (ii) the South Atlantic Anomaly region of the inner radiation belt (IRB); (iii) relativistic electrons and/or bremsstrahlung in the outer radiation belt (ORB); and (iv) solar energetic particle (SEP) events.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2014

The next generation small satellite-1 (NEXTSat-1) program has been kicked off in 2012, and it will be launched in 2016 for the science missions and the verification of space core technologies. The payloads for these science missions are the Instrument for the Study of Space Storms (ISSS) and NIR Imaging Spectrometer for Star formation history (NISS). The ISSS and the NISS have been developed by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Korea Astronomy and Space science Institute (KASI) respectively. The ISSS detects plasma densities and particle fluxes of 10 MeV energy range near the Earth and the NISS uses spectrometer. In order to verify the spacecraft core technologies in the space, the total of 7 space core technologies (SCT) will be applied to the NEXTSat-1 for space verification and those are under development. Thus, the operation modes for the ISSS and the NISS for space science missions and 7 SCTs for technology missions are analyzed for the required operation time during the NEXTSat-1's mission life time of 2 years. In this paper, the operational concept of the NEXTSat-1's science missions as well as the verification of space core technologies are presented considering constraints of volume, mass, and power after launch.

• Journal of computational fluids engineering
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.112-119
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• 2016

NEXTSat-1 is the next-generation small-size artificial satellite system planed by the Satellite Technology Research Center(SatTReC) in Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology(KAIST). For the control of attitude and transition of the orbit, the system has adopted a RHM(Resisto-jet Head Module), which has a very simple geometry with a reasonable efficiency. An axisymmetric model is devised with two coil-resistance heaters using xenon(Xe) gas, and the minimum required specific impulse is 60 seconds under the thrust more than 30 milli-Newton. To design the module, seven basic parameters should be decided: the nozzle shape, the power distribution of heater, the pressure drop of filter, the diameter of nozzle throat, the slant length and the angle of nozzle, and the size of reservoir, etc. After quasi one-dimensional analysis, a theoretical value of specific impulse is calculated, and the optima of parameters are found out from the baseline with a series of multi-physical numerical simulations based on the compressible Navier-Stokes equations for gas and the heat conduction energy equation for solid. A commercial code, COMSOL Multiphysics is used for the computation with a FEM (finite element method) based numerical scheme. The final values of design parameters indicate 5.8% better performance than those of baseline design after the verification with all the tuned parameters. The present method should be effective to reduce the time cost of trial and error in the development of RHM, the thruster of NEXTSat-1.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.58.1-58.1
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• 2017

The NISS (Near-infrared Imaging Spectrometer for Star formation history) is the near-infrared spectro-photometric instrument optimized to the first Next Generation of small satellite (NEXTSat-1). The off-axis optics was developed to cover a wide field of view with 2 deg. ${\times}$ 2 deg. as well as a wide wavelength range from 0.95 to $2.5{\mu}m$. Considering the simple alignment scheme, afocal system was adapted in the optical components. The mechanical structures were tested under the space environment. We have obtained the accurate calibration data using our test facilities under the operational condition. After the final integration of flight model into the satellite, the communication with the satellite and the functional test were passed. The NISS will be launched in early 2018. During around 2-year operation, the spectro-photometric survey covering more than 100 square degree will be performed. To achieve the major scientific objectives for the study of the cosmic star formation in local and distant universe, the main observational targets will be nearby galaxies, galaxy clusters, star-forming regions and low background regions. Here, we report the final performance of the flight model of the NISS.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2021

In this paper, we present observations of the Space Radiation Detectors (SRDs) onboard the Next Generation Small Satellite-1 (NEXTSat-1) satellite. The SRDs, which are a part of the Instruments for the study of Stable/Storm-time Space (ISSS), consist of the Medium-Energy Particle Detector (MEPD) and the High-Energy Particle Detector (HEPD). The MEPD can detect electrons, ions, and neutrals with energies ranging from 20 to 400 keV, and the HEPD can detect electrons over an energy range from 0.35 to 2 MeV. In this paper, we report an event where particle flux enhancements due to substorm injections are clearly identified in the MEPD A observations at energies of tens of keV. Additionally, we report a specific example observation of the electron distributions over a wide energy range in which we identify electron spatial distributions with energies of tens to hundreds of keV from the MEPD and with energy ranging up to a few MeV from the HEPD in the slot region and outer radiation belts. In addition, for an ~1.5-year period, we confirm that the HEPD successfully observed the well-known outer radiation belt electron flux distributions and their variations in time and L shell in a way consistent with the geomagnetic disturbance levels. Last, we find that the inner edge of the outer radiation belt is mostly coincident with the plasmapause locations in L, somewhat more consistent at subrelativistic energies than at relativistic energies. Based on these example events, we conclude that the SRD observations are of reliable quality, so they are useful for understanding the dynamics of the inner magnetosphere, including substorms and radiation belt variations.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.40.1-40.1
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• 2017

The NISS (Near-infrared Imaging Spectrometer for Star formation history) is the near-infrared spectro-photometric instrument optimized to the Next Generation of small satellite series (NEXTSat). To achieve the major scientific objectives for the study of the cosmic star formation in local and distant universe, the spectro-photometric survey covering more than 100 square degree will be performed. The main observational targets will be nearby galaxies, galaxy clusters, star-forming regions and low background regions. The off-axis optics was developed to cover a wide field of view ($2deg.{\times}2deg.$) as well as the wide wavelength range from 0.95 to $2.5{\mu}m$, which were revised based upon the recent test and evaluation of the NISS instrument. The mechanical structure were tested under the launching condition as well as the space environment. The signal processing from infrared sensor and the communication with the satellite were evaluated after the integration into the satellite. The flight model of the NSS was assembled and integrated into the satellite. To verify operations of the satellite in space, the space environment tests such as the vibration, shock and thermal-vacuum test were performed. The accurate calibration data were obtained in our test facilities. Here, we report the test results of the flight model of the NISS.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.64.3-65
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• 2016

The NISS (Near-infrared Imaging Spectrometer for Star formation history) is the near-infrared instrument optimized to the Next Generation of small satellite series (NEXTSat). The capability of both imaging and low spectral resolution spectroscopy in the near-infrared range is a unique function of the NISS. The major scientific mission is to study the cosmic star formation history in local and distant universe. For those purposes, the main observational targets are nearby galaxies, galaxy clusters, star-forming regions and low background regions. The off-axis optical design is optimized to have a wide field of view ($2deg.{\times}2deg.$) as well as the wide wavelength range from 0.95 to $3.8{\mu}m$. Two linear variable filters are used to realize the imaging spectroscopy with the spectral resolution of ~20. The mechanical structure is considered to endure the launching condition as well as the space environment. The compact dewar is confirmed to operate the infrared detector as well as filters at 80K stage. The electronics is tested to obtain and process the signal from infrared sensor and to communicate with the satellite. After the test and calibration of the engineering qualification model (EQM), the flight model of the NSS is assembled and integrated into the satellite. To verify operations of the satellite in space, the space environment tests such as the vibration, shock and thermal-vacuum test were performed. Here, we report the test results of the flight model of the NISS.