South Korea To Achieve Space Power Status With Launch of KSLV-1

12 countries currently have space centers and the ability to send satellites into orbit. If the upcoming launch of the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) is successful, South Korea will become the 13th member of this elite group. KSLV-1, also known as Naro-1, is scheduled for launch during the August 11-18 window from the newly completed US$248.6M Naro Space Center, located 485 km south of Seoul. The launch was originally scheduled for 2005 and was subsequently postponed 5 times. Korea officials have indicated that an additional postponement is likely, due to a required examination of a critical combustion test. Naro-1 measures 33.5 m in length, 2.9 m in diameter and weighs 127 metric tons. The first stage was developed by the Moscow-based Khrunichev, builder of the Russia Proton rocket, while the solid-fueled second stage was provided by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. Statistically, first launches have only a 27% success rate, and only 8 countries have succeeded in their first launch of indigenous rockets. Yoo Guk-hee, of the Korea Ministry of Education, Space and Technology, has said Korea will seek to launch the more powerful KSLV-2 in 2018, send an unmanned probe into lunar orbit in 2020 and build a lunar lander 5 years later. (Credit: KARI)

Cutting Edge Sat Technology Showcased at 23rd Annual Utah Small Satellite Conference

The AIAA / Utah State University's 23rd Annual Conference on Small Satellites will take place on August 14-17 in Logan UT. Deemed as the world's premier small satellite conference, the event offers comprehensive sessions and over 60 exhibits that bring together leaders in the academic, science, commercial, military and international fields. The event will commence with a keynote address from Lt. Gen Kevin Campbell, current Commander of the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command, followed by two technical sessions on potential mission applications of small satellites and current propulsion systems. Aug 11 session speakers will address cutting edge technology that will benefit the next generation of small spacecrafts. Several contenders for the prestigious student scholarship award include Forrest Rogers-Marcovitz (TL) of Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute and Bruce Davis (BL) of University of Colorado, Boulder. Development of smaller satellites is remarkably cost effective in comparison to traditional satellites and they require smaller and cheaper launch vehicles to put them into orbit. The financial surplus can be used to develop more sophisticated satellite technologies not only targeted for Earth, but also to advance lunar exploration and investigation of planets in the outer solar system. (Credit: smallsat.org, yenra.com, ri.cmu.edu, colorado.edu)