Rockot Successfully Launches South Korea’s Kompsat-2

A Rockot rocket containing the Kompsat-2 satellite lifts off from a launch pad at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, about 800 kilometers northeast of Moscow on July 28. (Eurokot Launch Services photo)

PLESETSK, Northern Russia, July 31, 2006/Satnews Daily/ ― Eurockot Launch Services GmbH successfully launched South Korea’s Kompsat-2 satellite on Friday at 07:05 hrs a.m. UTC (11:05 hrs a.m. local time Plesetsk) from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern Russia.

The Russian launch vehicle Rockot deployed the earth observation satellite of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) into a sun-synchronous orbit of 685 km altitude.  Kompsat -2 is a low earth orbit satellite carrying an optical payload. It was built by KARI in Daejon and is the first Korean satellite to be launched by Eurockot.

Kompsat -2 (Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite) is designed to provide monitoring and mapping services for the Republic of Korea's Geographic Information System (GIS) by employing a multi spectral camera. Its lifetime is expected to be 3 years, during which the satellite will produce high resolution images of the Earth's surface.
 

Reports say the 900-kg (2000 lb) spacecraft, also known as Arirang-2 satellite, can take high-resolution pictures of the earth's surface, making it South Korea’s most advanced surveillance satellite.

“The high-definition MSC (multi-spectral camera) will be able to give real-time visual data on North Korea's missile launch preparations or military activities, which would be otherwise unavailable,” South Korea's Overseas Information Service said.

The multipurpose satellite, equipped with a multispectral imaging camera, is expected to reduce Seoul's reliance on U.S. satellite imagery. Though ostensibly designed to update Korean maps, it is also capable of imaging North Korea and anywhere else in the world.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), established in 1989, has been devoted to fulfilling its role as the leading national aerospace R&D institute in Korea. R&D activities at KARI can be categorized into three areas: the development of cutting edge technology aircraft, the development of satellites, and the development of space launch vehicles.

Eurockot is the joint venture of Astrium GmbH, Germany (51%) and Khrunichev, Russia (49%) and markets, contracts and performs launch services for operators of low earth orbit satellites. Eurockot maintains world-class standard satellite integration, launch and customer facilities at Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern Russia to support its services using the Rockot launch vehicle which is based on the converted SS-19 ICBM.

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