The KOMPSAT-1 and 2 projects accomplished the goal of developing a payload and a bus for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites for the purpose of acquiring high level satellite technology which is essential to meet the national spacecraft requirements as well as to obtain global market share. KOMPSAT-1, was launched on December 21, 1999 by a Taurus launch vehicle at Vandenberg Air Force Base in the United States. It weighs 460 kg and has 636 watts of power. It is currently operating at an altitude of 685 km in a sun-synchronous orbit.

KOMPSAT-1 has four payloads on board: Electro-Optical Camera (EOC) capable of acquiring a 6.6 m resolution panchromatic image, Ocean Scanning Multi- Spectral Imager (OSMI) providing a 1 km resolution multi-spectral image, Ionosphere Measurement Sensor (IMS) and High Energy Particle Detector (HEPD).

In December 1999, the KOMPSAT-2 project to develop a highly advanced remote sensing satellite was started with the technology acquired from the KOMPSAT-1 project. KOMPSAT- 2 was successfully launched on July 28, 2006 by a Rockot launch vehicle at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia. It weighs 800 kg and has 1,000 watts of power and is operating at the same orbital altitude of KOMPSAT-1.

KOMPSAT-2, equipped with an MSC (Multi-Spectral Camera) able to acquire 1 m resolution panchromatic images and 4 m resolution color images, can resolve a building and even a car. The high resolution images will be used for various applications such as surveillance of massive natural disasters, utilization of mineral resources, construction of Geographic Information System (GIS), and cartography. According to the National Space Development Program, KOMPSAT-3 and 5 will be developed and new projects for another three satellites will begin by the year 2010.