The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Sun, August 14, 2022 | 12:40
Editorial
First Moon mission
Posted : 2022-08-05 17:00
Updated : 2022-08-05 17:27
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Danuri launch ushers in new era of space exploration for Korea

Korea launched "Danuri," its first mission to the Moon, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, the United States, Thursday. The mission, also known as Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), succeeded in making the first communication with a ground station at 9:40 a.m., 92 minutes after the launch, via antennas installed in Canberra, Australia, the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced Friday.

Danuri lifted off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on a ballistic lunar trajectory. It is set to arrive at the Moon by mid-December and carry out diverse lunar explorations for one year. Equipped with state-of-the-art scientific instruments, it will conduct missions such as Moon mapping, resources explorations and so on.

The launch of the KPLO comes on the heels of the successful liftoff the nation's own rocket, Korea Space Launch Vehicle (KSLV-II) or Nuri, to carry satellites into orbit. Should Danuri reach the Moon by the year-end as planned, Korea will become the world's seventh space powerhouse possessing both of its own space launch vehicle and mission.

Danuri, a coinage of "dal and nuri" in Korea, meaning "enjoy Moon," has been an ambitious, seven-year project for Korea at the cost of 236.7 billion won ($182 million). The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) led the project. Many countries have been rushing to discover the Moon to expand their space territories and reap economic profits. The Moon allegedly contains scarce resources such as helium 3 and other rare earth elements that can emerge as highly-lucrative assets for humans. Helium 3, for instance, is a highly efficient fuel of which one gram generates the equivalent of 40 tons of coal in the process of nuclear fusion.

Many nations are also targeting the Moon as the front base for navigation into deep space. Due to lighter gravity, rockets can be launched with less expense. Furthermore, it is possible to operate facilities that can accommodate humans by utilizing water, whose existence was already confirmed. Also, the Moon is a "living museum" showing the past of the Earth. With the state of vacuum paired with a thin atmosphere, it preserves the secret of the Earth's birth four and a half billion years ago.

The U.S. has resumed its Moon exploration program "Artemis" for the first time in 57 years and is poised to launch a manned lunar lander in 2025. It also plans to construct a permanent exploration base there by 2028 to use it as forward base to explore Mars. The EU launched its Moon mission in 2003, followed by Japan in 2007 and India in 2008.

Korea has become the 10th nation that joined the Artemis program. KARI President Lee Sang-ryool said he felt honored to be in charge of the space program. As Lee put it, Korea has ushered in a new era toward a leap in its space program. KARI plans to develop a more powerful rocket to carry a Moon lander by the early 2030s. It is high time for all related sectors such as the government, businesses and academia to combine efforts to enable the nation to jump toward becoming a space powerhouse in the real sense of the word.



 
LG
  • Seoul City to retrofit manholes to prevent fatal falls during floods
  • Ruling party politicians' visits to flood-damaged areas cause stir
  • Yoon pardons Samsung chief, other business tycoons to 'overcome economic crisis'
  • Why has Apple Pay been unavailable in Korea?
  • Korea lacks data to operate autonomous vehicles
  • Disney beats Netflix in streaming subscribers
  • Lotte Chilsung Beverage CEO's leadership questioned over numerous scandals
  • Korean 'jang,' Japanese miso soup turn historic animosity into tasty friendship
  • Star novelist's 'Harbin' on Korean independence fighter becomes bestseller
  • [Exclusive] KDB accelerates drive to set up new hub in EU
  • Interactive News
  • With tough love,
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • A tale of natural wine
    • Death of young webtoon artist sparks controversy over harsh working conditions Death of young webtoon artist sparks controversy over harsh working conditions
    • 'Good Doctor' director to debut Netflix's high-strung suspense series, 'A Model Family' 'Good Doctor' director to debut Netflix's high-strung suspense series, 'A Model Family'
    • Reality shows go abroad again amid eased COVID-19 travel restrictions Reality shows go abroad again amid eased COVID-19 travel restrictions
    • Musical 'Kinky Boots' tells people to love themselves as they are Musical 'Kinky Boots' tells people to love themselves as they are
    • Late Samsung chairman's collection highlights painter Lee Jung-seop as family man Late Samsung chairman's collection highlights painter Lee Jung-seop as family man
    DARKROOM
    • Ice is melting, land is burning

      Ice is melting, land is burning

    • Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

      Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

    • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

      Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

      Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

      Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    The Korea Times
    CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
    Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
    Tel : 02-724-2114
    Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
    Date of registration : 2020.02.05
    Masthead : The Korea Times
    Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Introduction
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Products & Service
    • Subscribe
    • E-paper
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Content Sales
    • Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • 고충처리인
    • Youth Protection Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Copyright Policy
    • Family Site
    • Hankook Ilbo
    • Dongwha Group