The development project for the new geostationary meteorological satellite Cheollian 5 has reached normal orbit after many twists and turns.
The Cheollian 5 development project went through a lawsuit after selecting the preferred bidder, and currently, key technology transfer negotiations are continuing between the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and LIG Defense & Aerospace (LIG D&A), which oversees the project.
Kim Do-hyeong, director of the National Meteorological Satellite Center, said at a press conference held at the National Meteorological Satellite Center in Jincheon-gun, North Chungcheong Province on the 5th, "The basic design of the Cheollian 5 system was completed last year, and the preliminary design is currently in progress, and it is progressing as planned. Although the technology transfer was slightly delayed from the original plan, there are no major problems with the launch in 2031."
The Cheollian No. 5 development project passed the preliminary feasibility study (pre-feasibility study) after repeated trials the year before last.
The reason for being eliminated in the first preliminary round was to allow the private sector to take the lead in the 'New Space' era. At the same time, the Cheollian 5 development project became ‘Korea’s first private-led geostationary satellite development project.’
Accordingly, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), which was eliminated after LIG D&A was selected as the preferred negotiating party in April last year, filed an administrative lawsuit and the litigation battle began.
KAI argued that the Korea Meteorological Industry Technology Institute underestimated KAI and overestimated LIG D&A and selected LIG D&A, which lacks the capacity to develop the Cheollian 5 main body and system, as the preferred negotiating partner, but the court did not accept it.
The lawsuit ended on September 24 with KAI losing.
After the lawsuit, the problem arose that the transfer of 22 core technologies promised from Korea Aerospace Research Institute to LIG D&A was not carried out as planned. The two sides engaged in a tug-of-war over the cost and method of relocation.
The technology transferred by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute includes data accumulated while developing past satellites such as Cheollian 2, which is considered a key element in shortening the development period for Cheollian 5.
Center Director Kim said, “Negotiations on the cost of technology transfer have entered the final stage and have well surpassed the 9th level,” and added, “With the internal procedures of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute for technology transfer remaining, we expect a contract to be signed in December.”
The development of a domestic meteorological satellite began with the sadness of not being able to prevent casualties due to the lack of an independent satellite.
As heavy rains occurred in northern Gyeonggi Province in 1996 and in Jiri Mountain in 1998, resulting in heavy casualties, the need for an independent satellite that could observe as much of the Korean Peninsula as desired without relying on Japanese satellite data became urgent, and 'independence' was achieved with the launch of Cheollian 1 in June 2010. It became the 7th country in the world to have its own meteorological satellite.
Cheollian 2A, currently in geostationary orbit 36,000 km above the equator, observes the entire Earth every 10 minutes and the Korean Peninsula and East Asia every 2 minutes, capturing hazardous weather phenomena in real time.
The scope of using satellite images has expanded, and this year, a service to detect forest fires was launched using Cheollian 2A and low-orbit satellite images from the United States and Europe.
Now that extreme weather phenomena such as extreme rain have become more frequent due to climate change, geostationary meteorological satellites that monitor the Korean Peninsula 24 hours a day, 365 days a year are in fact essential national infrastructure.
Although the Cheollian 5 development project is on track, the project still needs propulsion, just as a satellite must constantly adjust its orbit and attitude with a thruster to maintain its orbit and perform its mission.
This is not a situation where there is room in the budget or schedule.
The budget for the Cheollian 5 development project is KRW 666.8 billion, an increase of KRW 66 billion from when it first passed the preliminary test.
Rising prices and exchange rates were reflected. The fact that the number of satellite component manufacturers has decreased since the COVID-19 pandemic and the timing of satellite development does not match with that of the United States and Japan has forced them to purchase components at a somewhat high price, which is also a factor in increasing project costs.
As the New Space era opens and each country and company competes to launch satellites, the cost of launching Cheollian 5 is likely to rise more than expected.
The launch vehicle that will launch Cheollian 5 into space is scheduled to be selected next year, and the European Space Agency's (ESA) Ariane 6 and SpaceX's Falcon 9 are mentioned as candidates.
If the schedule is further pushed back, a ‘meteorological satellite gap’ may occur.
The lifespan of a satellite is about 10 years. Cheollian 2A, which entered formal operation in July 2019, would have been operated until 2029 and handed over the mission to its successor, but due to the delay in the development of Cheollian 5, it will have to work 'overtime' for about two years.
Fortunately, the performance of Cheollian 2A is maintained at its best and technical support from the developer is available. Additionally, fuel for attitude control and orbit maintenance remains available until up to 2032.
However, considering that Cheollian 2A must be operated in parallel for about a year after the launch of Cheollian 5 to verify the quality of new satellite observation data, further delays in the development of Cheollian 5 should be avoided.
Center Director Kim emphasized, “Korea is a country that operates the world’s best meteorological satellite along with the United States and Japan,” and added, “We will continue to provide world-class meteorological satellite services.”
