[Danuri Launch] On-site Sketch - Falcon 9 Soars with Taegeukgi... Dream of Becoming a Space Power Realized

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su, Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA = Joint Coverage Team] On the morning of the 5th (Korean time), the US Space Force base where Korea's first lunar probe 'Danuri' was launched is located on the easternmost coast of Florida, USA. It is said to be the closest place to the equator in the US, allowing fuel savings. 'Danuri Launch'

Until just before the launch, the site maintained very clear weather with not a single cloud. Since there was no fine dust and the area was flat land all around, the Danuri launch pad 40 could be visually confirmed from several kilometers away. The Korean press corps covering the Danuri launch arrived on the 4th at 1 PM (local time) by vehicle, passing through the main gate of the Cape Canaveral Space Force base and driving about 20 minutes to the 'SLC-40 (Launch Complex 40)' which SpaceX rents and uses from the Space Force base. Along with the joint coverage team vehicles, about 30 vehicles including pre-approved US media and individuals lined up together heading to the SLC-40 Falcon 9 launch pad.

On the way to the SLC-40 launch pad, other launch pads of different launch vehicle companies were noticeable, such as Blue Origin's next-generation launch vehicle 'New Glenn' launch pad (SLC-36), ULA (United Launch Alliance)'s 'Delta IV (SLC-37) launch pad', and ULA's 'Atlas V (SLC-41) launch pad'. Upon arrival, the Falcon 9 launch vehicle carrying Danuri was standing upright toward the sky, surrounded by four lightning protection towers taller than the launch vehicle. US media and individuals who arrived by vehicle busily installed various types of cameras (telephoto lenses, wide-angle lenses, 3D lenses, etc.) within about 100 to 150 meters of the Falcon 9, creating a unique scene.

On the morning of the 5th (Korean time), after South Korea's first lunar probe 'Danuri' was successfully separated following its launch, the delegation at the launch site of the U.S. Space Force base in Cape Canaveral, Florida, applauded. (From left: Park Young-deuk, Director of the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute; Cho Tae-yong, Ambassador to the U.S.; Cho Seung-rae, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker; Lee Jong-ho, Minister of Science and ICT; Kim Young-sik, People Power Party lawmaker; Lee Sang-ryul, President of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute; Jeong Pil-mo, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker)

About 30 minutes were given for camera installation and launch pad filming. After this time passed, a Space Force base soldier announced that everyone must leave the site. We then drove 20 minutes back to the SpaceX launch operations building parking lot. From about two hours before the Danuri launch, crowds gradually gathered at Cocoa Beach near the SpaceX launch operations building in Cape Canaveral, where the Launch Complex 40 could be seen with the naked eye. At 5:45 PM local time on the 4th (6:45 AM Korean time on the 5th), people with prior filming permission began moving by vehicle to the media viewing area. After about a 15-minute drive, arriving at the media viewing area about 4 km from Launch Complex 40, the upright launch vehicle and the four lightning protection towers were clearly visible. About 60 vehicles lined up side by side to watch the launch. A 13-year-old boy who came to the media viewing area said, "I came with my mother to see the Falcon 9 launch carrying the satellite made by Korea. It is my first time seeing a launch vehicle launch in person, and it is very exciting and interesting."

About one minute before launch, the oxidizer (liquid oxygen) was ignited, releasing a cloud-like white smoke all at once. Then, the Falcon 9 launch vehicle ignited its engines and majestically soared into the sky with strong flames. About 1 minute and 10 seconds after launch, it continued flying vigorously while emitting white smoke for about 10 seconds in the sky. Around 2 minutes after launch, only hazy smoke was visible before disappearing from sight, and after 3 minutes, it became impossible to observe with the naked eye. After 3 minutes and 30 seconds, the majestic sound was no longer heard. On the second stage of the Falcon 9 carrying Danuri, the phrase "Republic of Korea Lunar Orbiter" was inscribed along with the logos of the Ministry of Science and ICT, Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), and six institutions that developed the payload.

To watch the Danuri launch, Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT, President Lee Sang-ryul of KARI, President Park Young-deuk of the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Kim Young-sik of the People Power Party, and Democratic Party lawmakers Jo Seung-rae and Jung Pil-mo gathered at the launch site. Upon hearing the news of Danuri's successful launch, they applauded and offered congratulations. They encouraged the KARI researchers who participated in Danuri's development, preparation, and launch, expressing hopes that Danuri would safely approach the moon and settle into its mission orbit at an altitude of 100 km by December 31.