Korean Lunar Orbiter Scheduled for Launch in August 2022

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] The launch date for the Korean lunar orbiter has been set.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) announced on the 27th that the launch date for the lunar exploration orbiter, which will be launched using the 'Ballistic Lunar Transfer/Weak Stability Boundary' (BLT/WSB) method, has been scheduled for August 1, 2022.

Lee Sang-ryul, head of KARI's lunar exploration project team, revealed the scheduled date during an online aerospace academy hosted by the Korea Science Journalists Association on the 25th, in a presentation titled "Test Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) on the BLT Trajectory."

The lunar orbiter is a probe that will orbit the Moon to conduct terrain observation, collect information on landing sites for landers, and perform experiments to verify space internet technology.

KARI initially planned to launch the lunar orbiter using the 'Phased Loop Transfer' (PLT) method, but changed the plan after the orbiter's weight increased from 550 kg to 678 kg. They accepted concerns that fuel might become insufficient.

Instead of the original plan for the probe to orbit the Moon at a 100 km circular orbit for one year conducting exploration activities, KARI decided to modify the plan so that the orbiter will spend 3 months in a 100 km circular orbit and 9 months in a 100×300 km elliptical orbit conducting exploration activities.

However, NASA expressed concerns that changing the lunar orbit might prevent the ShadowCam from capturing proper images of the lunar surface.

NASA suggested to KARI to switch to the BLT method, which can reduce fuel consumption.

KARI formed a dedicated transfer trajectory design team (BTAK) to design the BLT trajectory, which was reviewed by NASA.

Lee said, "With the BLT trajectory change, we were able to secure 13.2% more correction fuel," adding, "If the prediction is correct, the mission will last at least 8 months."