This article uses the example of the failed Naro launch to illustrate the key role that mechanical aerospace engineering plays in space engineering projects. It discusses why mechanical aerospace engineering is important as a leader in space projects that involve the collaboration of various engineering disciplines and the future of space development, emphasizing the possibility of our country developing its own space launch vehicles in the future.
If you remember the failed Naroho launch in June 2010, we lost communication with the Russian launch vehicle just two minutes after it left the launch site, making the second attempt a failure after the first failed the year before. We borrowed the launch vehicle from Russia for a staggering $800 billion in royalties because we didn’t have the technology to put the satellite into orbit on our own, and even the borrowed launch vehicle didn’t work.
The Naro launch, even though it failed, is the most high-tech project in existence. It requires the convergence of all engineering and scientific disciplines, not just mechanical and aerospace engineering, to send a satellite into space. In a nutshell, it involves mechanical aeronautics for the fuselage, engines, and launch propellant; electrical and electronic engineering for the various electrical and electronic equipment and precise control; materials engineering to develop new materials to ensure that the outer shell of the spacecraft can withstand extreme conditions; and physics to analyze and calculate all possible phenomena. A space launch vehicle such as Naro is the result of the delicate and precise design and manufacturing of experts in various fields.
Space development, in particular, is not just about advancing science and technology, but also about determining a nation’s status and future technological hegemony. The Cold War space race between the United States and the Soviet Union is a prime example, and the technological achievements of this period laid the foundation for today’s space industry. Space exploration and launch vehicle development have now morphed into a means for countries to gain economic and military advantage. Against this backdrop, the aerospace industry is seen as a driver of national development, not just a technical challenge.
Every project has a leader, whose role is to bring the right blend of disciplines together and oversee the entire project. The Naro project was led by Professor Seungjo Kim, Director of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. Prof. Kim is a member of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Seoul National University and is arguably the foremost expert in the field of mechanical and aerospace engineering in Korea. While experts in many different fields are important, a mechanical aerospace expert was chosen to lead the project because he was the right person to oversee it. It’s like how in pizza, cheese, toppings, sauce, etc. are important, but the core of the pizza is the dough (bread). If we look at the Naroho project alone, mechanical aeronautics is the most central part. The overall exterior design (fuselage), the engines that generate the propulsion, and the thrusters that launch the vehicle can be thought of as the large skeleton of the entire Naroho. Once the skeleton is strong, the work of fleshing it out can proceed.
Leadership in aerospace engineering is not just about technical knowledge; it’s a complex role that involves clarifying the direction and goals of a project and bringing harmony to a diverse team. In this regard, mechanical aerospace engineers are essential to space projects and are often the backbone of the project. For example, Dr. Wernher von Braun, the leader of NASA’s Explorer launch project, was a mechanical aeronautical engineer, as was Dr. Doug McCuistion, who is currently leading the Mars mission to the Red Planet. This is why mechanical aeronautics is so fascinating, as it is a critical role in many space engineering projects, often in a leadership position and overseeing the entire project.
The aerospace industry is at the cutting edge of national competitiveness, and to excel in this field requires continuous research and development and the cultivation of talented individuals. I look forward to the day when Korea’s aerospace industry will be further developed and we will develop our own launch vehicles and satellites. I hope that one day, under the leadership of a competent mechanical aerospace engineer who will oversee our aerospace industry, a space launch vehicle such as the Naro will fly into space using only Korean technology.
What’s next for space development? Humanity is already looking beyond the moon to Mars and deep space exploration. Long-term goals such as developing sustainable technologies for human spaceflight, building space stations, and colonizing Mars will require the design and operation of complex systems that combine many different disciplines of engineering. This means that mechanical and aerospace engineers must be at the forefront of space development.
Korea is following suit, with new space development plans and continued investment. For these efforts to come to fruition, talented people in the field of mechanical and aerospace engineering will play a key role. Space development is no longer a dream, but a reality, and our generation will be the ones to make it happen. I look forward to the day when Korean mechanical and aerospace engineers will play an important role as key players on the global space development stage.
