The Unha Launch Vehicle: The History and the Future of DPRKs Space Transportation

Kim Isong Launch Vehicle Development Center Department of Space Transportation Korean Committee of Space Technology

The East Asia Society for Space Technology Space Conference Beijing, China, March 28, 2013

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Unha Launch Vehicle : the history and future

On Dec, 12,2012, DPRK successfully launch Unha-3(2nd Unit) and became the 10th country of Space Club This presentation shows the history of challenge of DPRK to space, and future vehicle development plan

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Unha and DPRK Launch Vehicles

DPRK developed two launch vehicle family, Paektusan and Unha Paektusan is nano-satellite launch vehicle and launched once in 1998 Unha is small-satellite launch vehicle family, and launched in 2006,2009,and 2012 From left to right, Paektusan1,Unha-1,2,3 mission configulations Vehicle designation: PS-1,ULV1,ULV-2,and ULV-2A

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Paektusan-1: the first challenge to space

3 stage, two liquid stage with small kick motor Vehicle type: PS-1 Length/Diameter :24.3m/1.25m Gross Mass: 19.3t Payload Capacity :20kg to 300km 40deg LEO Launch : Aug 31, 1998 Results: Partial Success (1st and 2nd stage functioned normally, but 3rd stage motor failed and inserted orbit too low. Orbit decayed only 3 cycles )

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Unha-1: the unsung milestone

3 stage, two liquid stage with small kick motor Vehicle type: ULV-1 Length/Diameter :24.3m/1.25m Gross Mass: 80.0t Payload Capacity :390kg to 500km 41deg LEO Launch : Mar 7, 2006 Results: 1st stage uncontrollable, range safety destruct vehicle

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Unha-2: a great leap to modern LV

3 stage, all liquid stage Vehicle type: ULV-2 Add new liquid 3rd stage Payload Capacity :560kg to 500km 41deg LEO Launch : Mar 7, 2006 Results: Partial Success 3rd stage guidance command shutdown failed and inserted orbit with too low perigee (98km). Orbit decayed only 8 cycles )

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Unha-3: full success to space

3 stage, all liquid stage Vehicle type: ULV-2A ULV-2 with 3rd stage performance improvement (more propellant loading and more smart guidance control system than ULV-2) Length/Diameter :24.3m/1.25m Gross Mass: 83.4t Payload Capacity : 630kg to 500km 41deg LEO

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Toward to future: ULV-2B

1st stage and propellant changes (AK-27I/TM-185 to AK-27I/UDMH) Isp of all stage increased 1st stage propellant loading increase

Payload: 500km 50deg LEO: 1340kg GTO Hp=200km,50deg: 418kg Trans Lunar Orbit : 218kg

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And our future vision

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