Yesterday, SpaceX launched South Korea’s first deep space mission on a Falcon 9 rocket. The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), otherwise called Danuri, is the first step toward a planned robotic moon landing by 2030. According to , the Danuri will: [KPLO] will be the first step for assurance and verification [South Korea’s] space exploration capability. Moon exploration will boost Korea’s space technologies, increase Korea’s value and boost pride [in] Korean[s]. Danuri on Falcon 9 launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Station in Florida last night. According to Korean officials, the Danuri orbiter will reach the Moon’s orbit in mid-December. The planned orbit will be circular and about 100 km from the surface of the Moon. The orbiter carries five science instruments, including four made in South Korea. The launch and mission is a jointly funded mission with NASA. KPLO Project Director Sang-Ryool Lee had this to say about the mission: It is fantastic that the Korea Aerospace Research Institute’s lunar mission has NASA as a partner in space exploration — we are excited to see the new insights and opportunities that will arise from the KPLO mission as well as future joint KARI-NASA activities. The launch was SpaceX’s thirty-third of the year, setting another new record for the space company.
