South Korea’s multipurpose sensible satellite tv for pc “Arirang 7,” launched early morning on Dec. 2 from South America, efficiently reached its goal orbit after separation from the launch automobile.
The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) and the Korea Aerospace Analysis Institute (KARI) introduced that the “Multipurpose Sensible Satellite tv for pc 7 (Arirang 7)” was efficiently launched at roughly 2:21 a.m. (14:21 native time on Dec. 1 at French Guiana Area Heart) from the French Guiana Area Heart.
Arirang 7 was efficiently separated from the Arianespace Vega-C rocket roughly 44 minutes after launch. Subsequently, it achieved its first communication with the Antarctic Troll floor station roughly 1 hour and 9 minutes later. KARI confirmed Arirang 7’s preliminary standing by way of communication with the Antarctic Troll floor station and verified by way of the launch automobile firm that it had efficiently reached its goal orbit.
Throughout preliminary communication, the satellite tv for pc’s situation was confirmed, together with photo voltaic panel deployment, and KASA introduced the ultimate launch success after conducting 4 floor station communications. Lee Sang-gon, director of KARI’s Multipurpose Sensible Satellite tv for pc 7 undertaking crew, mentioned, “The satellite tv for pc separated from the launch automobile after 44 minutes and entered regular orbit, and roughly 25 minutes later we confirmed by way of telemetry that the satellite tv for pc was working usually.”
Arirang 7 is a multipurpose sensible satellite tv for pc geared up with a domestically developed 0.3-meter class high-resolution optical digicam (AEISS-HR). After present process on-orbit testing and preliminary operation processes, it’s scheduled to supply full-scale floor statement imagery from the primary half of 2026. For this function, it can conduct exact statement of the Korean Peninsula from a sun-synchronous orbit at roughly 500 kilometers in low Earth orbit.
The decision of the brand new optical digicam represents greater than a threefold enchancment in interpretation functionality in comparison with the present Arirang 3A (optical 0.55m), enabling identification of car varieties and different particulars. By means of this, the coverage is to reply to numerous public sector satellite tv for pc imagery calls for together with catastrophe, disaster, land, useful resource, and environmental monitoring, and to supply world-class high quality satellite tv for pc imagery to each private and non-private sectors.
Lee Sang-chul, president of KARI, emphasised, “Arirang 7 is predicted to change into a satellite tv for pc that advances South Korea’s independently developed precision Earth statement capabilities by one stage,” including, “When Arirang 7 begins full operation, it will likely be important in that fast and correct data provision can be doable by way of improved home statement imagery data assortment capabilities for catastrophe and disaster monitoring, land administration, and different areas.”
KASA Administrator Yoon Younger-bin acknowledged, “With the profitable launch of Arirang 7 based mostly on the eagerness and dedication of many researchers, South Korea has achieved world-class growth capabilities within the discipline of Earth statement satellites,” including, “Now we’ll actively assist the switch of mature satellite tv for pc growth capabilities to the personal sector to allow them to change into a driving pressure for South Korea’s area financial system.”
