한국항공우주연구원

Successfully launched the『STSAT-3(Science and Technology Satellite-3)

- Successfully communicated with the satellite earth station in Korea and confirmed normal operation -

The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (Minister Choi Moon-Ki, hereinafter MSIP) and Korea Aerospace Research Institute (President Kim Seung Jo, hereinafter KARI) announced that STSAT-3(Science and Technology Satellite 3, hereinafter STSAT-3) was successfully launched from the Yasny launch base in southern Russia on November 21, 13:10(Korean Standard Time 16:10). Approximately 87 minutes after take-off, STSAT-3 established initial contact with the ground station in Svalbard, Norway, and 97 minutes after launch it established second contact. On November 21, 22:10(Korean Standard Time), 6 hours after take-off, Daejeon Satellite Technology Research Center made a final confirmation of its successful launch and status. 

STSAT-3 is scheduled to carry out its mission after conducting preliminary operations and functional tests of the satellite and its payload in orbit for the next 3 months. 

The STSAT-3 development project was supported by MSIP for 6 years that it was superintended by KARI, the Satellite Technology Research Center, Korea Astronomy & Space Science Institute, KAIST, Gongju National University, Chungnam National University, and Woosuk University. The project provided an opportunity to train personnel on national space development through acquisition of practical techniques such as satellite development, production, and test procedures by participating professors and college students. The project greatly expanded the base of space technology. 

STSAT-3 is carrying an infrared camera for space and earth observation and a small-sized image spectroscope, and is planned to collect spectroscopic image data such as space observation, earth observation, and infrared images at an altitude of 600km for the next two years.