Astro Bob: The first lunar mission from South Korea looks back to Earth

 By Bob King

Jan 08, 2023 01:43 PM

Recently, the Danuri probe orbited the moon and returned breathtaking images of the planet.

The lunar surface is covered with craters and is devoid of air, as seen in a view taken by the Korean Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter on December 28. Korea Aerospace Research Institute, which has contributed (KARI)

On August 5, 2022, South Korea launched its first voyage to the moon, and on December 16, that same year, it reached lunar orbit. Its name, Danuri, is a combination of the Korean words for "enjoy" and "moon," and it will survey the moon's surface and resources in preparation for future robotic and manned missions.

On this project, NASA is working with the Korean Aerospace Research Institute, lending technical support as well as its knowledge of space communications and navigation. The two organisations recently sent pictures and movies to several South Korean locales as part of a test of a new space-based Internet. One of them was the South Korean boy band BTS's smash "Dynamite."

This artwork shows NASA's very sensitive ShadowCam taking a picture of a lunar crater's bottom that is always dark. The bottoms of craters in the extreme polar regions are not illuminated by sunlight because of the moon's very modest (approximately 1.5° relative to Earth's orbit) axis tilt. Submitted by NASA

The orbiter is equipped with six sensors, including NASA's ShadowCam and five from South Korea, which will search for water-ice deposits in craters that are constantly shaded and grouped in the polar regions of the moon. They are only illuminated by faint sunlight reflected from the highest walls of adjacent craters. The ultra-sensitive ShadowCam camera will gaze into the shadows and return pictures that appear to have been taken in broad daylight.

Future lunar exploration will require a lot of water. Of course, astronauts will want a consistent supply for drinking and other needs. However, by splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen and liquefying those gases, you may create rocket fuel for travels back to Earth or to other places.

This illustration shows the Danuri moon orbiter from the Republic of Korea, which is currently orbiting the moon and measuring its magnetic fields. Korea Aerospace Research Institute, which has contributed

Danuri, which will orbit for roughly a year, also carries a magnetometer to gauge the strength of lunar magnetic fields and a gamma-ray spectrometer to evaluate the surface's chemical composition. It also carries a high-resolution image to map the lunar surface for potential landing sites for future missions.

The galaxy is filled with cosmic rays, which are fast particles (largely protons) emitted mostly by supernova explosions. The rocks on the surface of the moon are struck and excited. The spectrometer picks up and distinguishes the distinct gamma rays that each element emits.

On December 24, Danuri captured this image of the Earth passing by the edge of the moon. Nearly all of the Earth is lighted (Full Earth). The moon was fresh at the moment because the phase Earth shows at the moon complements that of the moon. Because the spacecraft was orbiting the lunar far side, the foreground craters are illuminated by the sun. Korea Aerospace Research Institute, which has contributed (KARI)

Danuri will also conduct a lunar resource search for helium-3, a possible fuel for nuclear fusion reactors, as well as uranium, aluminium, silicon, and other materials. Significant amounts of this uncommon helium isotope are assumed to have been incorporated into the lunar crust by the solar wind, a continuous stream of particles emanating from the sun.

Danuri and its handlers are discovering their own "moon delight" through scientific observation, in contrast to you and I, who like snapping pictures of moonrises and going on moonlight walks. Follow the institute on Twitter to see the two intersect in these lovely pictures.