Bucheon, South Korea – Danuri, South Korea's first lunar orbiter, has successfully completed a critical maneuver to lower its orbit for an extended mission. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) announced on February 20th that Danuri's altitude adjustment was completed on February 19th.

The maneuver lowered Danuri's apoapsis (farthest point from the Moon) from 119km to 86km and its periapsis (closest point to the Moon) from 82km to 38km. The average altitude was reduced from 100km to 60km. The orbital period remains largely unchanged at 1.9 hours, with Danuri orbiting the Moon approximately 12 times a day at a speed of 1.62km/s.

In addition to lowering its orbit, Danuri also adjusted its orientation in preparation for a total lunar eclipse on March 14th. The eclipse will prevent Danuri from generating solar power, which it relies on for operation.

Danuri was launched in 2022 with the primary mission of surveying lunar resources, including water ice and valuable rare minerals. Its initial mission was planned for one year, but has now been extended to 2027. At the end of its mission in March 2028, Danuri will be intentionally crashed into the Moon, leaving behind a permanent symbol of South Korea's first lunar exploration.

KARI President Lee Sang-ryeol praised the mission team for their meticulous work and expressed confidence that Danuri will continue to deliver valuable scientific data in its new orbit.