The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter is equipped with NASA's ShadowCam, an ultra-precise camera that can observe parts of the moon in perpetual darkness.

By Jung Joori and Lee Hana

Photos = Ministry of Science and ICT

A Korean-made lunar orbiter set for launch in August next year is equipped with NASA's ShadowCam, an ultra-precise camera that can observe parts of the moon in perpetual darkness like the craters of the two poles.

The Ministry of Science and ICT on Aug. 30 said the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) being developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) was fitted with this camera.

The KPLO will be assembled by October this year and undergo environmental testing and final examination before its launch in August next year by SpaceX of the U.S. Weighing 678 kg, the orbiter will complete its lunar mission using six payload systems: a high-resolution camera, optical field polarization camera, magnetic field meters, gamma ray spectrometer, satellite internet and ShadowCam. 

The ShadowCam was added as a result of the Korea-U.S. summit in May and the signing of the Artemis Accords, a U.S.-led international program for piloted lunar exploration. 

Twelve countries -- Japan, the U.K., Italy, Australia, Canada, Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Korea, New Zealand, Brazil and the U.S. -- have signed the agreement. The main goal of the program is to return humans to the moon by 2024 and establish a sustainable human presence there by 2028.

Under the agreement, Korea will receive free from NASA navigational technology that allows the orbiter to reach the moon's orbit, as well as communication technology allowing the craft to transmit data from outer space. 

Using the ShadowCam, the KPLO will check for the presence of water and other resources and examine the geographical features of the proposed landing site for the manned mission. It will provide this data to NASA as a member of the Artemis Accord. 

The ministry said, "The lunar exploration project, made possible by mutual cooperation between Korea and the U.S., has helped us obtain the core technology for deep space exploration and will serve as the starting point for the future of spaceflight, including the development of lunar landers." 

A virtual image of the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter

etoilejr@korea.kr