Korean Lunar Exploration Program (KLEP)
- Phase 1 Orbiter
- Phase 2 KIST rover
- Phase 3 Return sample
Korea has implemented an ambitious national program of lunar exploration, as it has the capacity to advance Korea's space technology to the next level and increase both the national brand value and national pride. Reflecting such expectations, 72% of Koreans are in favor of the budget for lunar exploration. The tangible and intangible economic value of Korea's lunar exploration is expected to be around KRW 3.8 trillion, which is more than five times the planned investment.
KARI is conducting cooperative fusion research to utilize the technologies owned by government-invested research institutes for lunar exploration. The cooperative fusion research for lunar research began in 2014 with the participation of fifteen government-invested research institutes including KARI. Various subcommittees of the program conducted research programs related with the lunar probe, payload, a deep space earth station, and rover research. The cooperative fusion research will identify and analyze technologies owned by the participating research institutes for lunar exploration and actually apply them to deep space development.
South Korea announced an ambitious plan on November 20, 2007 to join Asia's space race by launching a lunar orbiter by 2020 and sending a probe to the moon five years after that. The science minister unveiled the project one month after China launched its first lunar orbiter and two months after Japan did. According to the "road map to the implementation of space development," developing its own 300-ton rocket is projected to require KRW 3.6 trillion (USD 3.9 billion) over the next decade. "South Korea will send a probe into lunar orbit by 2020 and another to the surface of the moon by 2025 under the road map," a ministry spokesperson said.
The KSLV-II (Korea Space Launch Vehicle), which by one report weighs about 300 tons, will be ready by 2017 to fulfill the mission, while a smaller 130-ton KSLV-I will be launched in 2009. South Korea outlined plans to launch a large satellite weighing some 100 kilograms every three or four years, and to launch about two smaller satellites on an annual basis. South Korea is scheduled to open the Naro Space Center, the first of its kind in the nation, in the southern region of the peninsula next year.
At that time the first South Korean astronaut boarded Russia's Soyuz craft in April 2008 and stayed in space for eight days aboard the International Space Station. In the past decade, Seoul had spent about KRW 1.7 trillion on its space program.
Since the 2000s there has been heated competition among Asian countries to explore space and the Moon in particular. Japan sent its Kaguya probe into lunar orbit in September 2007. Japan's space agency says sending the USD 478 million lunar probe was the most costly project since the US Apollo program in the 1960s and 1970s. China launched its first lunar orbiter, Chang'e 1, in October. It became the world's third country after the Soviet Union and the United States to successfully complete a manned space mission in 2003 by putting astronaut Yang Liwei into space. Its third manned space flight is scheduled for late 2008 with three astronauts aboard going on China's first-ever spacewalk.
The Korean Lunar Exploration Project involves the development of Korea's first lunar probe and acquisition of the basic technologies needed for lunar exploration - such as an orbiter, a landing module, scientific payload, and deep space communication.
During Phase 1, a test orbiter will be developed in an effort to attain the key space exploration technology, the deep space network will be built, and the payload will be jointly developed with other countries. In Phase 2, an unmanned lunar orbiter and a lunar landing module will be developed and launched with the Korean launch system. The lunar probe will be equipped with mission systems such as a scientific payload to analyze the lunar environment and explore its resources, nuclear battery and rover.
Korea has acquired around 70% of the key technologies needed for lunar exploration based on the artificial satellite technologies it has accumulated over the years. Additional technologies such as deep space communication and deep space navigation will be attained through mutually beneficial international cooperation with organizations such as NASA of the US.
1 - Lunar Orbiter
South Korea revealed its first lunar orbiter 07 December 2020. The spacecraft, which will accurately map the moon and search for resources, is set to be launched in 2022. Researchers were conducting functional tests on the antenna and magnetic measuring device of the lunar orbiter. This was the first time that the parts and testing process of South Korea's first lunar orbiter had been revealed. This spacecraft was set to be launched from Florida between August and September 2022 on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. It was expected to reach the moon by December 16th the same year to conduct a year-long mission.
The first step to space exploration is very meaningful. Regardless of the departure date, the trajectory is being designed to arrive on December 16th, 2022. NASA 's payload will explore the areas of the moon that are permanently in shadow ahead of the Artemis mission which will send men and women to the moon. Meanwhile, South Korea's five payloads will search for underground resources and accurately map the moon.
The lunar probe was iniitally planned to be launched by a Korean launch vehicle. If the launch is successful in exploring the Moon, it would present an important opportunity to prove the capability of a Korean developed launch vehicle to the world. The Korean Lunar Exploration Project will lay the foundations for accelerating Korea's fast-growing space technology and helping Korea to become a major space power by securing the key technologies needed for space exploration early on.
2 - Lunar Lander
If the orbiter mission is successful, South Korea plans to send a lunar landing module by 2030.
On 16 February 2015 a research team led by Dr. Gang Sung-cheol at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology unveiled a prototype of a lunar rover, which was planned to be on the moon roving by 2020. What is notable is that a lunar rover has been developed with local technology.
The machine was able to carry out its mission in extreme conditions. Since it was designed to control heat easily, it can operate in a large daily temperature range from 170 degrees below zero to 130 degrees above zero. It can perform its tasks on rough terrain as well.
The most notable characteristic of the newly-developed rover is that it is composed of two bodies. The passive double tracks of ROBHAZ, a robot designed to perform dangerous work, were used. The passive double tracks with two separate bodies connected with chains help the robot operate in a smooth manner, while maintaining its contact with the ground even in rugged terrain. The rover can move steadily up 30 degree slopes and even get over a 5-cm-tall fence. It can move up to 4 cm per second.
The size of the rover that will be included in a lunar probe measuring 50 x 70 x 25cm and weighing 20kg. Considering that cameras and equipment for communications and analysis that will be featured in the lunar probe weigh 7kg in total, the rover was designed to weigh 13kg. To minimize the weight of the rover, 6 wheels were made of duralumin, an aluminum alloy used to make aircraft. Carbon fiber–reinforced plastic was also used to make the body. Two A4-sized solar panels in the front of the body will enable the machine to operate as much as 340 hours.
The research team also developed a film-coating technique and a technology to design and make bearings for the rover using solid lubricants, in consideration of a moon environment with a high degree of vacuum. In a vacuum, it is impossible to use bearings containing liquid lubricant. Thus, solid lubricant is considered to be very important for the development of space systems. If Korea sends the rover to the moon in 2020, it will be the fourth country after Russia, the U.S., and China to land something on the moon.
3 - Lunar Sample return
The Sample Return mission wold use launcher improved over KSLV-II after 2030. The payload lunar lander and land on lunar surface to do science activity such as gathering and analyzing mineral sample. Finally, ascent vehicle with mineral sample come back to the earth. After arriving moon, high-energy particle detector measure particle distribution on lunar surface. This measurement will be compared with measured data. Lunar lander which entered lunar atmosphere measures atmospheric density, temperature, and pressure which depending on height from 100km altitude using Atmosphere Structure Instrument (ASI) while it land on lunar surface. Then, rover explore lunar surface along given path photographing the environment in 3-D image with panoramic camera. Rover gather lunar surface mineral sample with its tongs and analyzes chemical composition rate of sample. Rover secures various samples and saves it in ascent vehicle. When science mission on lunar surface finished, ascent vehicle is launched and bring sample back to the earth.
First of all, rover for science mission should be developed. Then, rover loads payloads required for activities. Panoramic camera should be developed to save more data with highresolution. Ascent vehicle should be lighter and gather more samples than recent ascent vehicle. As navigation technology, improved control of lunar landing and earth returning system is required.
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