South Korea's First Lunar Probe Danuri to Launch on the 5th... "Only Countdown Left" (Comprehensive)

Ministry of Science and ICT: "No Issues in Inspection and Preparation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su, Cape Canaveral, USA = Joint Press Corps] South Korea's first lunar orbiter 'Danuri (KPLO)' has completed all launch preparations and is taking its first step on the journey to the Moon.

According to the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) on the 4th, Danuri is currently integrated into the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle fairing (satellite protective cover) module and is lying horizontally, waiting at the launch vehicle storage building at the U.S. Space Force Base in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The weather conditions on the launch day, which could be the biggest variable so far, are expected to be quite favorable. All systems related to Danuri and the launch vehicle are also operating normally, increasing the likelihood of a successful launch.

The Falcon 9 launch vehicle carrying Danuri will be loaded onto a dedicated transport vehicle from the launch vehicle storage building and moved to Launch Pad 40, where it is scheduled to be erected vertically toward space around 10 a.m. on the 4th (around 9 p.m. local time on the 3rd). After standing vertically, about 30 minutes of propellant supply system connection work will be conducted. Then, starting approximately 38 minutes before launch, fueling with fuel and oxidizer will begin, and automatic launch operations will activate 35 minutes before launch. Fifteen minutes before launch, external power will switch to internal batteries, effectively starting the launch countdown.

Earlier, Danuri arrived at SpaceX's Payload Processing Facility within the U.S. Space Force Base on the 7th of last month and completed full launch preparations, including status checks, communication tests, propellant fueling, interface verification, and launch vehicle adapter integration. During the inspection process, SpaceX, the launch service provider, found areas requiring additional work, which delayed the launch schedule by two days from the original 3rd to the 5th. The Falcon 9, consisting of two stages, reuses the first stage. During the first stage inspection, an anomaly was detected in one of the nine engine sensors, leading to a two-day replacement operation.

Kim Dae-gwan, head of KARI's Lunar Exploration Project Group, explained, "Since the Falcon 9 first stage is reused, anomalies during routine inspections are common. The recovery procedure has been completed, and conditions have been suitable for launch anytime between the 2nd and 8th local time, so there was no major issue."

After Danuri's launch, KARI plans to initiate the initial lunar orbiter check about one hour after the first communication is established. Successful communication with the ground station at this time is crucial for smooth recovery even if any issues arise with the satellite. Currently, 20 people, including KARI researchers and domestic partner company representatives, remain at the Payload Processing Facility at the launch site, continuously monitoring Danuri's status. Since Danuri's arrival in the U.S. earlier last month, they have been conducting inspections and preparations for the launch at the site.

The U.S. Space Force Base at Cape Canaveral, from which Danuri will be launched, is the closest launch site to the Earth's equator in the United States. The closer to the equator, the better the Earth's rotational speed can be utilized, reducing fuel consumption. This area is prone to frequent lightning strikes, so a lightning protection tower about 1.5 times taller than the 70-meter Falcon 9 has been installed at Launch Pad 40, where Danuri will be launched. Thanks to the large tower, it is visible to the naked eye from a distance.

Lee Sang-ryul, President of KARI, said, "Falcon 9 is a reliable launch vehicle with a success rate of 98.8%, and we expect the Danuri launch mission to be successfully carried out. After Danuri separates from the launch vehicle and enters the lunar transfer orbit, its autonomous flight will begin. Since it embodies our technological capabilities, we are confident the lunar transfer flight will also succeed."

Lee Jong-ho, Minister of Science and ICT, stated, "The fact that NASA installed the ShadowCam on Danuri signifies recognition of South Korea as a cooperative partner in space exploration. We will further expand cooperation with the U.S. in deep space exploration, including the Moon and Mars, going forward."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.