South Korea is planning to launch its first weather-communications satellite into space in March, 2010, the country's Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said on Friday — the satellite was developed jointly by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and France's Astrium. It will be placed in geostationary orbit 36,000 km from Earth and be equipped with a multi-spectrum camera and sensor array that can help gather high quality ocean meteorological data including typhoons, ocean temperatures, the movement of dust and cloud formations, the ministry said.

The satellite has been assembled in South Korea and will be shipped to Toulouse, France, within the month for final performance evaluations before being launched from the French spaceport near Kourou in French Guiana in South America, the ministry added, also indicating the satellite cost a total of 355.8 billion won (about UR$304.6 million) in the last seven year. When in orbit, the government will be able to receive faster and more accurate weather information and related ocean conditions near the Korean Peninsula. The satellite has a life expectancy of seven years, the ministry said.