"Developing a satellite system takes at least three years, and creating a completely new mission system requires even more time. The government's lunar exploration project seems to be moving too quickly," said Lee Dae-young, a professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at KAIST.
In an interview on July 8 at the Korean Science and Technology Center in Gangnam, Seoul, Lee evaluated the government's plan for lunar exploration by 2030. After working at Harvard's Microrobotics Lab, he is currently researching space robots and deployable structures using origami engineering at KAIST.
He emphasized the necessity of challenges, stating, "It's difficult to advance technology by only doing what is obviously achievable. As the global technological landscape changes rapidly, learning from failures and building an industrial base is also essential."
Lee identified Nuri's transport capability as crucial for the success of the lunar exploration mission in 2030. He explained, "Lunar exploration is a project that combines various fields such as propulsion, orbit control, and landing systems. While some communication technologies related to lunar orbit operations have been validated through Danuri, securing sufficient transport capability for Nuri to reach the moon will be a significant challenge."
Regarding the current state of domestic space robotics technology, Lee assessed it as being in its early stages. He noted, "Our country has no experience operating robotic systems in space, and we lack operational experience. The KAIST Satellite Research Institute plans to validate a domestic robotic system in space through the 'Active Control Technology Development for Space Objects' project."
Research is also underway to secure domestic space robotics technology. Lee's lab is developing an origami-based gripper designed to capture space objects. He explained, "In the space environment, all equipment must be packed into a launch vehicle, which imposes significant spatial constraints. By utilizing origami structures, we can fold them small for launch and then expand them in space for use. This structure is particularly important due to the significant spatial limitations in space."
Lee believes this technology could also be applied beyond space to industrial settings. He pointed out that origami-based grippers excel at grasping objects with irregular shapes. He stated, "In logistics, there are various mixed objects, including boxes, fruits, plastic bottles, and rice bags. Unlike existing robotic grippers, the one we are developing can be used in all situations." He added, "Since space technology is developed under the premise that it cannot fail, it can also be utilized in challenging environments on Earth, such as rugged logistics warehouses, farms, and military areas."
As global competition in space intensifies, Lee suggested strategies for South Korea. He noted, "The key for the U.S. is to increase the number of countries and private companies participating in the Artemis program, thereby integrating them into the related ecosystem. In contrast, China is creating everything through overwhelming national investment."
He concluded, "We cannot match the U.S. and China in terms of economic scale or research personnel across all fields. However, since space technology can easily transition to military technology with even slight changes, it is crucial for our country to secure independent technology that can be utilized whenever needed."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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