|
KOUROU, French Guiana, Dec. 5, 2006/Satnews
Daily/ ― The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) has chosen
Arianespace to launch its COMS-1 multi-mission satellite.
Jean-Yves Le Gall, chief executive officer of Arianespace, and Dr.
Hong-Yul Paik, president of KARI, signed the launch service contract for
the COMS-1 satellite.
COMS-1 will be placed into geostationary transfer orbit by an Ariane 5
from the Guiana Space Center, Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French
Guiana, between the end of 2008 and June 2009.
This latest contract from South Korea continues a collaboration that
started with the launch of the Kitsat A and B science microsatellites
for KARI, followed by the Koreasat 3 communications satellite for
operator Korea Telecom.
The Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite-1 (COMS-1),
weighing about 2,600 kg at launch, will be fitted with three payloads,
including meteorological observation and ocean surveillance. Because of
its orbital position, it will also be fitted with an experimental
payload for broadband, multimedia communications services.
Program prime contractor Astrium Satellites will
build COMS-1 using a Eurostar 3000 platform fitted with a meteorological
imager and an ocean observation payload. The experimental telecom
payload is being supplied by KARI.
Recent Stories:
Arianespace in Final Preparations for Dec. 8
Launch of WildBlue-1, AMC-18 Satellites
WildBlue-1 Starts Pre-launch Preparations at
Arianespace’s Spaceport
TerreStar Networks Chooses Arianespace to Launch
TerreStar I
Arianespace’s Launch Vehicle Completes
Initial Integration |
