In 2029, the blueprint of Korea’s first independent asteroid exploration project, which investigates the super-closer asteroid Apophis, and identifies changes before and after approaching Earth, was unveiled to the public for the first time. As it is the first case of putting a space probe developed by ourselves on our own launch vehicle and putting it into space exploration for the public purpose of mankind, it is raising expectations that it will be the first debut stage to complete Korea’s space development. In particular, it is evaluated that the development of a Korean launch vehicle and future function improvement programs, which have been criticized for focusing only on securing technology without a clear goal, will gain more momentum.
The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute held an online ‘Planning Public Hearing for Preliminary Feasibility Study of the Apophis Proximity Exploration Project’ on the 25th. The public hearing is a preliminary procedure for a preliminary feasibility study, and it is known that the investigation will be requested in early March.
Apophis is an asteroid that orbits the solar system every 6-7 years. It was first discovered in 2004 and is 390 meters in diameter, which is equivalent to the Empire State Building. On April 13, 2029, it is predicted to reach Earth at a distance of 36,000 km. 2029 is the first time such a large celestial body approaches Earth.
The Apophis asteroid proximal exploration project is being promoted jointly by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Astronomy and Space Research Institute, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, and the National Defense Science Research Institute. The purpose is to explore asteroids, which are considered future resources and secrets of the birth of the solar system, and secure space technology capabilities such as deep space navigation and communication technology in the process.
In addition, as the possibility of potential dangers in outer space, such as collisions of space objects in orbit and the fall of the Earth, increases, it is necessary to secure space exploration technology to strengthen the nation’s comprehensive space risk response capabilities. In fact, the United States and Japan have already succeeded in asteroid exploration. The samples were taken and brought to Earth by NASA’s Osiris-Rex spacecraft and Japan’s Hayabusa-2.
It marked the orbit of Apophis as it approached Earth in 2029. As Apophis approaches the Earth up to 32,000 km, the Earth’s gravity changes its orbit slightly. Courtesy of NASA
A total of 387.3 billion won is expected to be invested in the project. The period is 2024-2030, and the first stage, 2024-2027, will promote the development and production of the Apophis probe system and probe. In the second phase of 2028-2030, the Apophis probe is launched, and the operation control of deep space navigation and the observation of Apophis are promoted.
It is also developing a projectile for the Apophis exploration. The plan is to develop a dedicated projectile using the Korean launch vehicle Nuri and solid kick motor technology. The top remodeling for the 4th stage expansion of the Nuri 3 stage projectile and the synthesis of the 4 stage kick motor system for the interface with the projectile and probe will be carried out. For each institution, the Astronomical Institute is in charge of scientific payloads and scientific research, while the Air Force Research Institute is responsible for the development of probes and ground stations, the Nuri, and the Defense Science Research Institute are in charge of the development of the 4-speed kick motor.
Choi Young-jun, senior researcher at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (Apophis Mission Planning and Research), said on the same day, “If the asteroid Apophis exploration is successful in 2029, it will be a pyrotechnic point that completes Korea’s independent space development capability.” “The launch should start before October 2027,” he said.
According to the operating scenario revealed today, the probe will be launched on October 17, 2027. It will escape Earth’s gravitational field on the 21st of the same month and reach a point 1 million km from Apophis on October 23, 2028. It will approach Apophis on December 19 and January 1, 2029, and begin a six-month companion flight (Rendezvous) on January 16, 2029.
Accompanying flight is an observation flight moving at the same speed as an asteroid. It is a basic technology used for on-orbit services such as fuel injection and repair, and for future commercial and military use in space, such as docking, space debris removal, and disabling of enemy satellites. Moon Hong-gyu, head of the Space Exploration Group, Cheon Moon-yeon, said, “Companion flight technology is not the future, but the present commercial and security technology.”
According to Cheonmunyeon, the economic analysis result of the Apophis project was 0.73. It is analyzed that the cost equivalent to 73% of the investment can be recovered through the benefits of increasing corporate sales and mining the space sovereignty.
“By proving the technological excellence of domestic parts, companies participating in technology development can secure competitiveness to enter the global space market,” said Choi Chek-im, a researcher at the research institute. It also has an effect,” he said.