The Danuri probe will reach the moon in mid-December.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying South Korea's Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter spacecraft, also known as Danuri, launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Aug. 4, 2022.
This first step will lead toward a robotic moon landing by 2030, if all goes according to plan — a milestone that will be huge for South Korea."Lunar exploration will enhance the space technologies of Korea, increase the value of Korea and stimulate pride [in] Korean[s]," the KARI statement added. The Falcon 9 rose off a pad at Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station today at 7:08 p.m. EDT . The rocket's two stages separated 2.5 minutes after launch and went their separate ways. The first stage came down for a pinpoint landing on the SpaceX droneship"Just Read the Instructions" nine minutes after liftoff.
, finally slipping into lunar orbit in mid-December. That orbit will be circular and just 60 miles above the moon's gray dirt., which launched in late June and is taking a similarly circuitous path to Earth's nearest neighbor.The $180 million KPLO mission is primarily about demonstrating technologies needed to reach and explore the moon, but Danuri will also do meaningful science work from its orbital perch.
The 1,495-pound spacecraft carries six science instruments, five of them homegrown and one, called ShadowCam, provided by NASA. This gear will gather a variety of data during a mission designed to last at least one year.better understand the moon's remnant magnetic fieldDanuri imagery will also help mission planners scout out good spots for South Korea's future lunar landing mission, KARI officials said.
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