Major research outcome
- KNGPDL develops a cryogenics-based atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion and assesses its drag compensation feasibility in very-ow-Earth-obit.
- 관리자 |
- 2026-03-30 19:37:52|
- 109
- 2026-03-30 19:37:52|
Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) refers to the orbital regime below 450 km in altitude. Because satellites operate at significantly lower altitudes than in conventional Earth orbits, this region offers substantial improvements in payload performance, including observation resolution. However, the presence of a residual rarefied atmosphere generates aerodynamic drag on satellites, thereby limiting their mission lifetimes. Consequently, VLEO has been considered a challenging environment for long-term satellite missions.
Recently, Atmosphere-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP) has attracted attention as a promising concept for enabling orbit maintenance in VLEO. Similar to air-breathing engines used in aircrafts, ABEP employs an intake device to collect and compress the incoming atmospheric flow from the ram direction and then supplies it to a space propulsion system. Because it does not require onboard propellant, ABEP has the potential to mitigate mission lifetime constraints and enable long-term operation in VLEO. However, the development of an efficient intake device capable of collecting and compressing the rarefied atmosphere is regarded as the key technology for realizing ABEP systems.
The KAIST Non-Equilibrium Gas and Plasma Dynamics Laboratory (KNGPDL; Advisor: Prof. Eunji Jun) in the Department of Aerospace Engineering devised the design and operational sequence of a Cryocondensation-Regeneration Active Intake Device (CRAID) to maximize the collection and compression performance of the intake. KNGPDL also numerically analyzed the required specifications and on-orbit performance necessary for VLEO operation. To this end, they developed multidisciplinary analysis methodologies within an integrated numerical framework. This framework includes rarefied-gas phase-change and thermal-load simulation techniques for the intake and cryogenic transport of the rarefied atmosphere, an analytical model for thrust estimation of plasma-based electric propulsion, and thrust-to-drag impulse and power-balance assessment techniques for verifying operational feasibility. Based on this numerical framework, KNGPDL evaluated the system-level applicability of CRAID and presented practical operational sequences and a flight envelope for complete drag compensation.
This research, with Dr. Geonwoong Moon as the first author, was published in 2026 in the journal Aerospace Science and Technology (Impact Factor: 5.8, top 10% in its JCR category).
Title: Operational Feasibility Analysis of a Cryogenic Active Intake Device for Atmosphere-Breathing Electric Propulsion
DOI: 10.1016/j.ast.2026.112138
Recently, Atmosphere-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP) has attracted attention as a promising concept for enabling orbit maintenance in VLEO. Similar to air-breathing engines used in aircrafts, ABEP employs an intake device to collect and compress the incoming atmospheric flow from the ram direction and then supplies it to a space propulsion system. Because it does not require onboard propellant, ABEP has the potential to mitigate mission lifetime constraints and enable long-term operation in VLEO. However, the development of an efficient intake device capable of collecting and compressing the rarefied atmosphere is regarded as the key technology for realizing ABEP systems.
The KAIST Non-Equilibrium Gas and Plasma Dynamics Laboratory (KNGPDL; Advisor: Prof. Eunji Jun) in the Department of Aerospace Engineering devised the design and operational sequence of a Cryocondensation-Regeneration Active Intake Device (CRAID) to maximize the collection and compression performance of the intake. KNGPDL also numerically analyzed the required specifications and on-orbit performance necessary for VLEO operation. To this end, they developed multidisciplinary analysis methodologies within an integrated numerical framework. This framework includes rarefied-gas phase-change and thermal-load simulation techniques for the intake and cryogenic transport of the rarefied atmosphere, an analytical model for thrust estimation of plasma-based electric propulsion, and thrust-to-drag impulse and power-balance assessment techniques for verifying operational feasibility. Based on this numerical framework, KNGPDL evaluated the system-level applicability of CRAID and presented practical operational sequences and a flight envelope for complete drag compensation.
This research, with Dr. Geonwoong Moon as the first author, was published in 2026 in the journal Aerospace Science and Technology (Impact Factor: 5.8, top 10% in its JCR category).
Title: Operational Feasibility Analysis of a Cryogenic Active Intake Device for Atmosphere-Breathing Electric Propulsion
DOI: 10.1016/j.ast.2026.112138
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