Danuri
South Korea's first lunar orbiter, launched in 2022.
Danuri, officially the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), is South Korea's first lunar mission. It is a technology demonstrator designed to survey lunar resources such as water ice, helium-3, silicon, and aluminium, and to produce a topographic map to help select future lunar landing sites. The orbiter was launched on 5 August 2022 on a Falcon 9 Block 5 launch vehicle and inserted into orbit around the Moon on 17 December 2022 (UTC).
- Launch date
- 5 August 2022
- Lunar orbit insertion
- 17 December 2022 (UTC)
Lore & Background
The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter was officially named 'Danuri' on 23 May 2022 by the South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT. The name is a portmanteau of the Korean words 'dal' (moon) and 'nurida' (enjoy), implying hope and desire for the success of South Korea's first Moon mission. The mission is Phase 1 of the Korean Lunar Exploration Program (KLEP), with Phase 2 planned for a lunar orbiter, lander, and rover launch by 2032 on a KSLV-3 vehicle from the Naro Space Center.
Danuri carries six science instruments totaling about 40 kg, five from South Korea and one from NASA. The NASA instrument, ShadowCam, is a hypersensitive optical camera designed to map reflectance in permanently shadowed regions near the Moon's poles to search for evidence of water ice deposits. ShadowCam is 200 times more sensitive than the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's LROC narrow angle camera and was developed by scientists at Arizona State University and Malin Space Science Systems. The first released ShadowCam image showed the wall and floor of Shackleton crater.
On 7 November 2022, Danuri successfully forwarded photos and video files, including BTS's 'Dynamite', from outer space to Earth as part of an experimental 'space Internet' test using delay-tolerant networking. The spacecraft used ballistic lunar transfer, taking about 135 days to reach the Moon, and its main propulsion comes from four 30-newton thrusters, with attitude control from four 5-newton thrusters.
Reader's Guide
Danuri represents South Korea's entry into independent lunar exploration, serving as a technology demonstrator for critical space technologies while also conducting scientific surveys. Its mapping of lunar resources such as water ice, uranium, helium-3, silicon, and aluminium, combined with high-resolution topographic imaging, directly supports planning for future human activities on the Moon. The mission's collaboration with NASA, particularly through the ShadowCam instrument, enhances understanding of permanently shadowed regions and potential water ice deposits. By successfully testing delay-tolerant networking, Danuri also contributes to the development of interplanetary communication infrastructure. The mission's data and technological lessons will inform Phase 2 of the Korean Lunar Exploration Program, which aims to land a rover on the Moon by 2032. Danuri thus marks both a national milestone and a practical step toward sustained lunar presence.
Did You Know?
- The orbiter carries six science instruments with a total mass of approximately 40 kg.
- Danuri successfully forwarded BTS's 'Dynamite' from outer space to Earth as part of a space Internet test.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Danuri?
Danuri, formally called the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), is South Korea's first spacecraft designed to travel to and orbit the Moon. It functions as a technology demonstrator for the country's broader space ambitions.
What does Danuri actually do up there?
The orbiter surveys key lunar resources—including water ice, helium-3, silicon, and aluminium—while also generating a detailed topographic map of the surface. That mapping data is intended to help engineers pick safe landing zones for future South Korean landers.
When was Danuri launched and what rocket carried it?
Danuri lifted off on 5 August 2022 riding a Falcon 9 Block 5 launch vehicle. After a several-month cruise, it finally arrived at its destination in the following December.
When did Danuri enter orbit around the Moon?
The spacecraft completed its lunar orbit insertion on 17 December 2022 (UTC), roughly four and a half months after launch. From that point it began its primary science and mapping operations.
Why does Danuri matter for South Korea's space program?
It is the nation's very first independent mission to the Moon, proving South Korea can plan, build, and operate a deep-space spacecraft on its own. The data it collects also lays the groundwork for any subsequent South Korean lunar landing attempts.
More in Missions to the Moon 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced