Development of Korean High Altitude Platform Systems

A 10-year program to develop a stratospheric airship for telecommunication relays and ground observations at 20 km altitude has started in December 2000. The program consists of 3 Phases. In 1st Phase, a 50 m unmanned airship will be developed with basic research for stratospheric airship to secure technologies required for 2nd Phase development. During the 2nd Phase development, a prototype stratospheric airship will be launched for station keeping at 20 km. The 2nd Phase development plan will take concrete shape based on the result of the 1st Phase. Then, stratospheric airship will be commercialized through 3rd Phase development. KARI, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, has been developing a 50 m unmanned airship system as its 1st Phase Program during last 3 years. KARI finished design of the system, manufacturing of components and sub-systems, tests of components and sub-systems, and total system check for flight test. KARI’s general plan and approach for developing stratospheric airship are described in this paper. The characteristics of KARI’s 50 m unmanned airship system are briefly introduced with ground and flight test results. Also, some activities for the 2nd phase are described.