Space Tech Independence
Several Korean companies have successfully localized parts for satellites and space launch vehicles, taking one more step toward the nation's independence in space technology. On Aug. 27, the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning announced that three local companies that were supported for their project to develop core technology for space succeeded in producing start trackers for satellites, antennas for satellite cameras, and combustion heads for space launch vehicles.
A Flight Model-level high speed, high precision star tracker, which was developed by the Satrec Initiative, provides satellite positions by observing starts. It is a high-value-added sensor that controls the attitude of the spacecraft, necessary for the development of practical low-orbit satellites. Since this start tracker was developed based on a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) active pixel image sensor (APS), it consumes less energy than existing charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensors. Moreover, it can provide information about the exact position of the spacecraft under acceleration. This component is going to be installed on small, next-gen satellites scheduled to be launched in 2017, and it will be tested for its performance in a space environment.
The X-band antenna for high-resolution satellite cameras developed by Kukdong Telecommunication is a gimbal-type antenna that guarantees steady data transmissions irrespective of the position of the satellite and that has greater mobility as well. It is lighter and has a lower vibration level than those installed on KOMPSAT-3 and KOMPSAT-3A, and is expected to be used in small next-gen satellites.
The combustion head using high-strength materials made by the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) is a structure that can withstand the weight of thrust power loading of a liquid rocket engine. It is also a core part that needs ultra-high strength at room temperature and extremely low temperatures. Manufacturing technology hasn't been disclosed by advanced countries, but the company was able to develop the combustion head through investment casting, using ultra-heat-resistant alloys, which was never tried. It also developed Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP), a manufacturing process used to reduce the porosity of metals. The KIMS succeeded in developing a prototype, and thus it is expected to be used in the next space launch vehicles.