The Korea Space Launch Vehicle-Ⅱ(KSLV-Ⅱ), named Nuri, successfully launched into space on June 21st, 2022. Currently, South Korea stands as the seventh country to have launched a satellite of practical application using its own technology. After KSLV-Ⅱ was successfully launched, The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) was launched at 8:10 a.m. on August 5th, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, USA. For the first time ever, a lunar orbiter, KPLO, was developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). It was named the Danuri, which is a combination of two Korean words: “moon” and “enjoy”. It suggests the idea that people hope to fully enjoy the moon and to successfully explore it, as it is the first time for Korea to explore the moon using their own technology. 

How KMAG came to be developed

 The Artemis project, which was planned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a three-step project, was started 2017 with the purpose of being a manned mission to the moon. NASA is looking to land two astronauts on the moon in 2024. South Korea was confirmed as the tenth country joining the Artemis project at the 2021 Republic of Korea-United States Summit. As part of the partnership and support to the project, the KPLO, which had been in development since 2016, was launched this year. 

KPLO was launched using the carrier rocket Falcon 9, developed by Space Exploration Technologies Corp. in the state of California, and it will establish its lunar orbit on December 17th, 2022. The mission of KPLO is to develop and verify technologies for lunar exploration and to accomplish scientific goals related to the moon and its surroundings. Thus, six payload systems were loaded onto KPLO to help the mission objective succeed. 

A payload system is an instrument that is used to perform satellite missions. KPLO Magnetometer (KMAG) is one of the payload systems on KPLO. As its mission, KMAG will measure the magnetic field of the moon and study the space environment around the moon. It was developed by the help of Professor Jin Ho in the Dept. of Astronomy & Space Science (A & S) at Kyung Hee University (KHU).

Detailed information of KMAG

 Three Fluxgate sensors that measure the magnetic field are used in KMAG. Prof. Jin Ho said the reason they attached three sensors is to precisely measure the magnetic field. Also, the KMAG has redundancy technology, which means even if one of the three sensors breaks down, others can complete the mission. In addition, these three sensors are located on the inside of the boom of KMAG, not on the outside. A boom is a structure that is attached furthest from the main body to avoid magnetic field distortion from the satellite core. Attaching sensors to the outside of the boom was a new approach for the team, as this was more structurally complex than putting the sensors on the inside. 

However, exterior placement of the sensors reduced errors and improved multi-sensor use. Likewise, specified conditions from KARI needed to be met; such as weight, vibration environment, heat, radiation, and others. The professor stated, “There were a few technical challenges, but the most difficult thing was to proceed with the project on a given budget”. As KMAG is planning to settle down in its lunar orbit on December 17th, Prof. Jin Ho mentioned that two conditions are needed for the probe to reach lunar orbit. The first condition is for KMAG to stay functional; the other is the stability of observation data and verification of inspection and correction requirements.

About Professor Jin Ho; Designer of KMAG

 Prof. Jin Ho started studying space technology through contriving and developing space equipment since few pieces of space observation equipment existed due to the unique surface of the moon. His main attraction to this field was the origin and evolution of space. 

He defines the space science sector as a field which tries to find answers of natural human curiosity; such as, where we come from and where we are going. He had been working as a researcher at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute for more than 14 years and moved to work as a professor in the department of A & S at KHU from 2009. 

The University invited him to join the national project called World Class University, which started in 2008. He noted that KMAG is a subject of research which was never tried in Korea and originated from his experience at KHU as one of the strengths of this University is the space physics and science sector. KHU began to prepare for the development of payload systems related to lunar exploration back in 2009, using technology verification systems and international cooperation. These efforts were followed by its selection of payload system development in 2016, thus Prof. Jin Ho began developing by 2019, with the Dept. of A&S. 

Future direction in study and education of Prof. Jin Ho

 Based on the achievement of KMGA, Prof. Jin Ho is now developing a Search Coil Magnetometer for space exploration and joining the Commercial Luna Payload Service with Professor Seon Jong-Ho in the Dept. of A&S at KHU. In addition, he said that participating in such projects has great educational value for the students because there are fewer opportunities in the country for practical experience related to their studies. He also added KHU can grow enough as a university in global competitiveness as the field of technology development goes on with multidisciplinary links. He concluded by stating his educational orientation, which is to expand more opportunities for undergraduate college students to participate in projects with  professors of the Dept. of A&S. 

In summary, KMAG, developed through the help of Prof. Jin Ho, is looking to measure the magnetic field and study the space environment around the moon after reaching its lunar orbit on December 17th. Also, as the Dept. of A & S at KHU is taking part in the development of the space industry by participating in a combined world project, the advancement of the Dept. of A & S at the University is not only expected, but also South Korea’s space technology capabilities look to consistently progress in the years ahead.