South Korea completes detailed design review of first KPS navigation satellite
In short
South Korea's space agency held a three-day critical design review of the first Korean satellite navigation system (KPS) satellite from 20 to 22 October, extending an earlier payload review to the whole satellite. The satellite is targeted for launch in September 2029, and an integrated review of the full KPS is planned for November.
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South Korea's Korea AeroSpace Administration said on 22 October that it had held a system critical design review (CDR) for the first satellite of the Korean satellite navigation system (KPS). The three-day meeting ran from 20 to 22 October at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute in Yuseong District, Daejeon, according to Yonhap. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Korea Coast Guard and research and development institutions took part. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
KPS satellite No. 1 is being developed with a launch target of September 2029. Yonhap and Newsis described the CDR as a development procedure that checks whether the system design delivers the functions and performance needed for the mission, and as the last design review stage before the flight model is built. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
A review of the payload was held in September, and this meeting widened the scope to the satellite body and the whole satellite. Newsis said the body supports the navigation payloads, so power generation and attitude control had to be designed to suit payload operation. Yonhap said reviewers checked the interfaces, the connecting conditions between the body and components such as the payload. Newsis said the aim was to confirm that each piece of equipment works together once combined into a single satellite, not only on its own. [ 2 , 3 ]
Participants also reviewed items to be checked during later manufacturing and assembly, and test plans to verify the satellite's performance, according to Newsis and Asia Economy. [ 1 , 2 ]
The agency plans an integrated detailed design review in November covering the KPS system, ground system and user system. Newsis said it would examine the design of the main systems and the links between them, and the agency would use the results to firm up preparations for manufacture, assembly and testing with the agencies concerned. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Kim Jin-hee (김진희), head of the agency's satellite division, said the meeting was an occasion to check the design completeness of the whole satellite by looking at the links between the navigation payload, the body and components. Kim said the results would be reflected in preparations for manufacture, assembly and testing, and that the November review would proceed as planned. [ 1 , 2 ]
Asia Economy described KPS as a satellite navigation system that Korea is building on its own to provide position and time information, for use in air, sea and land transport among other fields. Yonhap said the project is meant to provide high-precision position, navigation and timing information for the area near the Korean Peninsula, with 3.7234 trillion won to be spent through 2035, and called it the world's seventh own satellite navigation system. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The review is described as the last design check before the flight model is built, so it moves the first KPS satellite toward manufacture and assembly. The agency says a further review of the wider system is due in November.
Key facts
- The Korea AeroSpace Administration held the system critical design review (CDR) for KPS satellite No. 1 from 20 to 22 October at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Korea Coast Guard and research institutions took part. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- KPS satellite No. 1 is being developed with a launch target of September 2029. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A payload design review held in September was widened this time to cover the satellite body and the whole satellite. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Reviewers examined the connections between the satellite body and components such as the payload. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Power supply and attitude control functions of the satellite body were among the points examined. [ 1 , 2 ]
- An integrated detailed design review of the KPS system, ground system and user system is planned for November. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The agency held the CDR for KPS satellite No. 1 from 20 to 22 October with the ministries and research institutions named above. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The CDR is the last design review stage before the flight model, the satellite to be flown, is built. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The agency plans an integrated detailed design review covering the system, ground and user systems in November. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Cost and ranking of the programme: 3.7234 trillion won to be spent through 2035, and KPS described as the world's seventh own satellite navigation system. Only one document (Yonhap) gives these figures.
- Findings of the review. The documents describe what was examined but give no results, and say only that the findings will be reflected in later manufacturing, assembly and test preparations.