According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) announced on January 3 that its unmanned spacecraft, Danuri, has sent back images of Earth and the Moon after entering lunar orbit in December 2022.
Images of Earth (left) and the Moon captured by the unmanned spacecraft Danuri, released on January 3, 2023. (Photo: Yonhap/TTXVN)
Danuri began executing three Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI) maneuvers on December 17, 2022, to slow down and stabilize before the gravitational pull of the Moon, before moving into its final orbit on December 27, 2022.
According to KARI, the first image was captured on December 24, 2022, from approximately 345 kilometers away from the Moon, while Danuri was performing its second LOI. The second image was taken four days later as the spacecraft orbited Earth’s satellite.
After 145 days since its launch from Earth, Danuri is orbiting the Moon at a speed of 5,832 km/h, following a regular 2-hour cycle.
This month, Danuri is expected to switch its system to the operational mode to begin its mission on the Moon. Starting in February, Danuri will utilize six onboard scientific instruments to measure the lunar terrain, magnetic field, gamma rays, and other surface characteristics. The spacecraft will also identify potential landing sites for future lunar missions.
