South Korea's First Moon Orbiter, Danuri, Lifts Off from Earth Toward a Dream of Becoming a Space Power

At 8:08 a.m. August 5 (South Korean time), the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Danuri lifts off from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, U.S.A. Cape Canaveral, Florida / Joint press photographers

The first Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), Danuri, lifted off. When Danuri enters the moon’s orbit as scheduled four and a half months later and begins observation, South Korea will be the seventh in the world to successfully engage in lunar exploration. This is the first time that a South Korean space probe broke away from the Earth’s orbit and pioneered the space frontier.

At 8:08 a.m. August 5, South Korean time (7:08 p.m. Aug. 4 local time), the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying Danuri, was launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, U.S.A.

The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket separated 2 minutes and 34 seconds after liftoff this day. The first stage, which was used for the sixth time in the latest launch, successfully returned to Earth. Falcon 9 continued to increase altitude by operating the second stage rocket and deployed Danuri, inside the payload fairing, into space forty minutes after liftoff. Danuri successfully entered a ballistic lunar transfer orbit 44 minutes after liftoff.

However, the first communication with the ground station on Earth, which was scheduled to occur an hour after liftoff was somewhat delayed. Authorities confirmed signals from Danuri later than expected and the successful launch was confirmed at 9:40 a.m. instead of the scheduled 9:10 a.m.

Initially, the launch of Danuri was scheduled on the morning of August 3 (Korean time), but SpaceX discovered a problem which required further inspection while examining Falcon 9 on July 28. This delayed the launch.

The Falcon 9 rocket carrying Danuri soars into the sky over the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 8:08 a.m. August 5 (South Korean time). Cape Canaveral, Florida / Joint press photographers

Danuri will travel through space for four and a half months. It is scheduled to enter the lunar orbit on December 16. It will first circle the moon in an oval course, then on December 31, it will enter a circular orbit 100km above the moon’s surface.

Authorities will begin test operating Danuri next January, and then from February to December, the probe will begin observing and exploring the moon. South Korea began developing Danuri in 2016 and has invested 236.7 billion won.

Danuri has a gross weight of 678kg and dimensions of 2.14m * 1.82m * 2.19m. The spacecraft carries six science instruments: five were homegrown, while one was developed by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

When Danuri successfully observes the moon, South Korea will be the seventh country in the world to succeed in lunar exploration following Russia, U.S.A., China, Japan, the E.U. and India. It will be a big leap for South Korea towards becoming a major player in space development, after its successful launch of Nuri last June.