South Korea Strives to Join Major Space Nations with First Indigenous Orbital Launch

Korea Space Launch Vehicle 2 (KSLV-II) / Nuri (World) is set to mark South Korea entry into club of nations with domestic orbital launch capability with Oct 21 launch window opening 16:00 KST (GMT+9) at Naro Space Center in Goheung (34.4°N, 127.5°E). Developed over a decade by Korea Aerospace Research Institute, prime engine contractor Hanwha Aerospace and 300+ other commercial partners, 3-stage Nuri is flagship launch vehicle of ROK, expected to provide access to space for regional clients at low cost (~US$30M per launch), advance KOMPSAT Earth observation program, and send Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (NET 2022) / lander to Moon (NET 2030). The first stage of vehicle is powered by four 75-ton KRE-075 engines, stage 2 has an additional KRE-075, and stage 3 a single 7-ton KRE-007 engine – all are fueled by LOX / kerosine. Payload capacity is rated at 2,600 kg to 300 km LEO / 1,500 kg to 600–800 km SSO. With legacy restrictions imposed by USA preventing solid fuel rocket development lifted in 2020 / limiting launch capability to <800km lifted in May, South Korea is advancing plans to increase space budget >5% to $553M for 2022 and produce solid-propellant rocket by 2024. Kari also plans to develop Nuri platform with a 2-stage small sat launcher within a 2025-30 time frame and a Heavy Lift launcher 2030-40. (Image Credits: KARI)

MONDAY

Highlights…
Oct 18 — ISS, ~405-km LEO: Seven-member Expedition 66 led by 1st French national commander Thomas Pesquet (ESA), Shane Kimbrough, Megan McArthur, Mark Vande Hei (NASA), Akihiko Hoshide (JAXA), Anton Shkaplerov, Pyotr Dubrov (Roscosmos) continue work on experiments in biology, robotics, VR.

Oct 18 — Tiangong Space Station, ~370-km LEO: Three-member Shenzhou-13 crewmembers Wang Yaping, Zhai Zhigang, Ye Guangfu setting up 50-ton station for 6-month mission, plan to surpass previous CNSA time in space record 2x over.

Oct 18 NewSpace: Orbit Fab attempting to establish in-space fueling interface standard by offering design gratis; new space travelers Jared Isaacman and William Shatner share perspectives; Planet CO2 / CH4 detection constellation launching NET 2023 advanced by US$25M Bloomberg funds.

Oct 18 — Solar System: Pluto losing atmosphere as it nears aphelion of 248- Earth year orbit; Mars Perseverance science team publishes evidence of cataclysmic flooding 3.5 mya; SLS may take humans to deep space destinations.

Oct 18 — Galaxy: Celestial hitchhiking may be efficient means of populating Galaxy; Intermittent, highly polarized radio burst observed emanating from MWG center under investigation as possible new object class.

Oct 18 — Global: PM Modi forms Indian Space Association public/private consortium to foster commercial space; UAE Space Agency to be led by Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi; Australia to build US$110M Moon rover for Artemis NET 2026, holding naming competition.

Oct 18 — USA: Orion Stage Adapter containing ten 6U CubeSat payloads ready for NET 2022 SLS launch; Boeing zeros in on Starliner valve fault; 49% of USA respondents say they want to participate in spaceflight.

Oct 18 — Hawai’i: IfA astronomy team outfitting 46-meter yacht to observe upcoming total eclipse offshore Antarctica; Proposed HI Large Telescope construction postponed 2 years, funds depend on awaited decadal survey.

= All times for terrestrial events in local time unless noted.

= All times for international terrestrial events in local time unless noted.

= All times for space events, and…

= All times for international space / astro events in Hawaii Standard Time unless noted. Add 10 hours to obtain UT (‘Universal Time’).


Weekly Planet Watch Evening Planets: Venus (SW), Jupiter (S), Saturn (S), Uranus (E), Neptune (SE); Morning Planets: Mercury (E).

Dubai, UAE Hosting Space Exploration, Experts Meetings Preliminary to 72nd IAC

Leading up to 2021 IAC in Dubai, the UN, SGAC, IAA and IAF are holding events with gender, generation, geography, inclusion and education in focus. UNOOSA ‘United Nations Space for Women Expert Meeting: Initiatives, Challenges and Opportunities for Women in Space’ on October 21-22 will have 4 sessions including presentations, discussions, lectures and networking to advocate for equality in space sectors. The Space Generation Advisory Council will have its Space Generation Congress Oct 21-23 with up to 150 international top university students and young professionals engaging in working groups, keynotes and panels. This year the 2 top priorities for SGAC are identified as ‘active implementation of sustainability practices and focus on community connection’ and specifically space technologies for climate / environmental issues. The 28th UN-IAF Workshop on Space Technology for Socio-Economic Benefits themed Space Exploration – A source of Inspiration, Innovation and Discovery on Oct 22-24 will promote capacity building opportunities for emerging space countries. On Oct 24 the International Academy of Astronautics Academy Day 2021 and award dinner will see global IAA member reports on current developments possibly including cooperation with National Academies, heads of space agencies, Astronauts, space engineers and policy makers. Also Oct 24 is the IAC Hosts Summit when the candidate location for 2024 IAC will be announced from contenders: Adelaide, Budapest, Milan, Sao Paulo, Seville. (Image Credits: UN, IAF, SGAC, IAF, ESA)

Oct 18 — Chinese Academy of Engineering Sciences, Shenzhen, China: Deep Space Exploration Science, Technology and Applications Conference.

Oct 18-20 — Geological Society of London, Online / United Kingdom: Conference: Habitats Beyond Earth.

Continued From…

Aug 2 – Oct 31 — SpaceBase, Planet, Christchurch, New Zealand and Online: Space for Planet Earth Challenge; seeking innovative ideas from New Zealand, Australia, and Pacific Island residents at High School and University / Start-up level to address climate change through space technologies.

Oct 4 – Nov 10 — AIAA, Online / Reston VA: AIAA Short Course: Spacecraft Design, Development and Operations.

TUESDAY

Oct 19 — Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX), HEO: NASA spacecraft mapping boundary between the Solar System and interstellar space reaches 13 full years / enters 14th year in Space today, launched on this day 2008.

Oct 19 — ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter 2016, Mars Orbit: ESA and Roscosmos spacecraft reaches 5 full years / enters 6th years at Mars, launched 2016; craft continues collecting data on atmosphere, deployed Schiaparelli demonstration lander 19 Oct 2016 (unsuccessful).

Oct 19 — Lunar and Planetary Institute, Online / Houston TX: Lecture: Sharing Planetary Science – Engaging Children.

Oct 19-21 — International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety, JAXA, Osaka, Japan: 11th IAASS Conference: Managing Risk in Space.

Oct 19-21 — National Academies of Sciences, Online / Washington DC: 168th meeting of the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board.

Oct 19 – Nov 11 — AIAA, Online / Reston VA: AIAA Short Course: Space Architecture: Designing a Lunar Habitation System.

Oct 19 — Mercury: At perihelion, 0.3075 AU from Sun, 14:00.

Oct 19 — Apollo Asteroid 2021: Near-Earth Flyby (0.023 AU)

Oct 19 — Comet 342P/SOHO: Near-Earth Flyby (0.054 AU)

WEDNESDAY

NET Oct 20 — Rocket Lab, Launch Electron / NASA CAPSTONE, Launch Complex 1A, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand: Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment to pathfind near rectilinear halo orbit planned for Lunar Gateway.

Oct 20 — BepiColombo, Mercury Trajectory: European Space Agency / JAXA Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (dubbed Mio ‘waterway or fairway’) reach 3 full years / enter 4th year in space today, launched 2018; expected to reach Mercury polar orbit 2025 to map planet, investigate magnetosphere.

Oct 20 — Moon Village Association, Online / Vienna, Austria: Global Expert Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA) 9th meeting; 15:00-17:00 CET.

Oct 20 — Moon: Full / Hunter’s Moon, 04:56.

Oct 20 — Apollo Asteroid 1996 VB3: Near-Earth Flyby (0.022 AU)

THURSDAY

NET Oct 21 — KARI, Launch KSLV 2 / Test Flight, Naro Space Center, South Korea: Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) indigenous third-stage rocket Korea Space Launch Vehicle 2, also known as Nuri, to attempt first orbital launch attempt.

Oct 21 — NASA, U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Online / Huntsville AL: Kickoff Webinar: NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge.

Oct 21 — British Interplanetary Society, Hybrid / United Kingdom and Online: Lecture: Modern Space Elevator – Ready to Initiate Development; featuring Peter Swan and Jerry Eddy.

Oct 21-22 — UNOOSA, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Brazil, Brazilian Space Agency, National Institute for Space Research, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, Dubai, UAE: United Nations Space for Women Expert Meeting: Initiatives, Challenges and Opportunities for Women in Space.

Oct 21-23 — Space Generation Advisory Council, Dubai, UAE: Space Generation Congress 2021.

Oct 21 — Orionids Meteor Shower Peak: The 2nd of 2 showers from Halley’s Comet dust, Orionids appear to radiate from Constellation Orion, are swift (68 km/sec), can be bright & leave persistent trains; ~25 meteors per hour.

Oct 21 — Moon: 1.24° SE of Uranus, 13:00.

Oct 21 — Mars: 2.60° NNE of Spica, 11:00.

Oct 21 — Apollo Asteroid 2021 TE4: Near-Earth Flyby (0.021 AU)

Oct 21 — Aten Asteroid 2021 TV3: Near-Earth Flyby (0.034 AU)

Oct 21 — Apollo Asteroid 2021 RE10: Near-Earth Flyby (0.040 AU)

Oct 21 — Apollo Asteroid 2021 SG2: Near-Earth Flyby (0.041 AU)

FRIDAY

Oct 22 — Arianespace, Launch Ariane 5 / SES 17 & Syracuse 4A, Kourou, French Guiana: Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA255, to launch SES 17 and Syracuse 4A communications satellites.

Oct 22-24 — UNOOSA, International Astronautical Federation, Dubai, UAE: Workshop on Space Technology for Socio-Economic Benefits: Space Exploration – A source of Inspiration, Innovation and Discovery.

SATURDAY

Oct 23 — Moon: 4.2° SE of Pleiades, 00:00; 6.2° N of Aldebaran, 18:00.

SUNDAY

Oct 24 — Mars Odyssey, Mars Orbit: NASA spacecraft reaches 20 full years / begins 21st year in orbit around Mars today, holds record for longest-surviving continually active spacecraft in orbit around a planet other than Earth; launched 2001.

Oct 24 — International Academy of Astronautics, Dubai, UAE: IAA Academy Day 2021.

Oct 24 — International Astronautical Federation, Dubai, UAE: IAC Hosts Summit; 2024 IAC Host Candidates Locations: Adelaide, Budapest, Milan, Sao Paulo, Seville.

Oct 24 — Moon: At apogee (distance 405650 km), 06:00.

Oct 24 — Aten Asteroid 2021 TE1: Near-Earth Flyby (0.025 AU)