KITSAT-1 explained

KITSAT-1
Names List:KITSAT-A
Korea Institute of
Technology Satellite-1
Uribyol-1
KITSAT-OSCAR-23
KO-23
Our Star
Mission Type:Technology demonstration
Operator:SaTReC
Cospar Id:1992-052B
Satcat:22077
Website:KAIST SaTReC
Mission Duration:5 years (planned)
Spacecraft:KITSAT-1
Spacecraft Bus:SSTL-70
Manufacturer:Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL)
Power:30 watts
Launch Date:10 August 1992, 23:08:07 UTC
Launch Rocket:Ariane 42P H-10
Launch Site:Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2
Launch Contractor:Arianespace
Orbit Reference:Geocentric orbit[1]
Orbit Regime:Low Earth orbit
Orbit Inclination:66.00°
Orbit Period:112.0 minutes
Apsis:gee
Instruments:Digital Store and Forward Communication Experiment (DSFCE)
CCD Earth Imaging System (CEIS)
Digital Signal Processing Experiment (DSPE)
Cosmic Ray Experiment (CRE)
Programme:KITSAT program
Next Mission:KITSAT-2

KITSAT-1 or KITSAT-A (Korean Institute of Technology Satellite)[2] is the first South Korean satellite to be launched. Once launched, the satellite was given the nickname "Our Star" (우리별). KITSAT-1 operated in a 818miles by 825miles low Earth orbit (LEO). Of the 12 satellites launched by South Korea, KITSAT-1 is in the highest orbit.[3] While KITSAT-1 maintains equilibrium by gravity gradient forces, magnetic torque can be used to control attitude if needed.[4] The forecasted lifespan of KITSAT-1 was only five years, but communication with the satellite was maintained for 12 years.[3] Since the launch of KITSAT-1, South Korea launched an additional 36 satellites by 2020.[2]

Description

KITSAT-1 is considered to be a smallsat or microsatellite.[5] KITSAT-1 is the smallest low Earth orbit satellite that has been launched by South Korea.[3]

Instruments

KITSAT-1's on-board computer (OBC) system uses an OBC186 for the main OBC and an OBC80 as the backup on-board computer system.

KITSAT-1 carried a Digital Store and Forward Communication Experiment (DSFCE), a CCD Earth Imaging System (CEIS), a Digital Signal Processing Experiment (DSPE), and a Cosmic Ray Experiment (CRE).[6]

The CCD Earth Imaging System is equipped with two different cameras. These cameras are a wide-angle camera with a 4 km/pixel resolution and a high-resolution camera with a 400 m/pixel resolution. The two CCD cameras on KITSAT-1 are located on the bottom of the satellite so that the cameras should always be pointed toward Earth[7]

On board was equipment to run the Cosmic Ray Experiment (CRE). The experiment's main purpose was to monitor and study space radiation in a low Earth orbit. These space radiation measurements were to be taken in short and long time frames. The CRE is able to measure high-energy protons, galactic cosmic rays from deep space, and solar cosmic rays from solar flares.

The CRE payload consists of two subsystems. The two subsystems are the Cosmic Particle Experiment (CPE) and the Total Dose Experiment (TDE). The CPE is used to measure the Linear Energy Transfer (LET) spectrum over short time frames, and the TDE is used to measure the total accumulated ionizing radiation dose over long time frames.

Launch

Launched in 1992, KITSAT-1, which stands for the Korea Institute of Technology Satellite-1, was the first satellite developed by SaTReC. Developed through a collaborative program between SaTReC and the University of Surrey, United Kingdom, the main objective of the KITSAT-1 program was to acquire satellite technology through the training and education of satellite engineers.[8]

KITSAT-1 was placed in a 1320 km orbit with a 66° orbital inclination. This orbit lies just within the inner Van Allen radiation belt.

The success of the KITSAT-1 program marked the beginning of space technology development for South Korea.[9]

KITSAT-1 was launched from Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG) on 10 August 1992 on an Ariane 42P H-10 launch vehicle along with NASA's TOPEX/Poseidon satellite and France's S80/T satellite. Its launch weight was 48.6 kg, and it measured 35.2 cm x 35.6 cm x 67 cm. The console of the University of Surrey UoSAT-5 satellite was used.

With this launch, South Korea became the 22nd country to operate a satellite.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: STSat 2C 2013-003A NORAD 39068. N2YO.com. 31 October 2013.
  2. An, Hyoung Joon. South Korea's space program: Activities and ambitions. Asia Policy . 27 . 2 . April 2020. 34–42 . 10.1353/asp.2020.0029 . 219499652 . 29 April 2021.
  3. Choi . J. . Jo . J.H. . Choi . E.J. . Yu . J. . Choi . B.K. . Kim . M.J. . Yim . H.S. . Roh . D.G. . Kim . S. . Park . J.H. . Cho . S.. Space surveillance radar observation analysis: One-year tracking and orbit determination results of KITSAT-1, "우리별 1호" . Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences . 2020 . 37 . 2 . 105–115 . 10.5140/JASS.2020.37.2.105. 2020JASS...37..105C . 225783832 . 28 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201222232204/http://koreascience.or.kr/article/JAKO202017561783029.page . 22 December 2020 . live . free .
  4. Min. K. W. . Kim . S. H. . Shin . Y. H. . Choi . Y. W. . KITSAT-1 cosmic ray experiment initial results . Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences . 10 . 2 . 103–112. December 1993. 1993JASS...10..103M . 29 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220415165757/https://ocean.kisti.re.kr/downfile/volume/kosss/OJOOBS/1993/v10n2/OJOOBS_1993_v10n2_103.pdf . 15 April 2022 . live .
  5. Kim . H.S. . Lee . H.K. . Choi . S.D.. On-board computer system for kitsat-1 and 2 . Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences . 13 . 2 . 41–51. May 1996. 29 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210504155136/http://ocean.kisti.re.kr/downfile/volume/kosss/OJOOBS/1996/v13n2/OJOOBS_1996_v13n2_41.pdf . 4 May 2021 . live.
  6. Web site: Display: KITSAT-A 1992-052B. NASA. 10 February 2021. 2 March 2021.
  7. Park . S. . Bae . J. . Sung . D.K. . Choi . S.D.. Development of the thermal model for kitsat-1/2 microsatellites and its verification using in-orbit telemetries . Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences . 13 . 2 . s105-116 . May 1996. 29 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210504130932/http://ocean.kisti.re.kr/downfile/volume/kosss/OJOOBS/1996/v13n2/OJOOBS_1996_v13n2_105.pdf . 4 May 2021 . live .
  8. Web site: KITSAT-1 mission page from SSTL. SSTL. 2016-12-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20161227055818/https://www.sstl.co.uk/Missions/KITSAT-1--Launched-1992. 2016-12-27. dead.
  9. Web site: KAIST Satellite Technology Research Center (SaTRec). KAIST SaTRec. 2 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20220328073609/http://satrec.kaist.ac.kr/e_02_01.php . 28 March 2022 . live .