South Korea is set to launch a dedicated satellite for agriculture and forestry observation from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Equipped with a wide-area observation camera, the satellite is expected to be utilized for disaster response and climate change analysis, among other applications.
According to the Space Agency, the Next-Generation Medium Satellite 4 (CAS500-4) will be launched on July 7 at 4:10 p.m. Korean time aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
This launch, a collaborative effort between the Space Agency, the Rural Development Administration, and the Korea Forest Service, has completed approximately 30 days of pre-launch preparations, including functionality checks and fuel loading, and is now in a ready state for launch.
The satellite will separate from the Falcon 9 about 2 hours and 22 minutes after launch and will attempt its first communication with the Svalbard ground station in Norway approximately 31 minutes later. This communication will confirm whether the satellite has successfully reached its intended orbit.
The Next-Generation Medium Satellite 4 is equipped with a domestically developed wide-area observation camera, allowing it to capture images of the entire nation every three days. It is planned to be used in various public sectors, including agricultural and forestry management, monitoring forest changes, disaster response, climate change analysis, and enhancing public safety.
After launch, the satellite will enter an orbit at an altitude of approximately 888 kilometers and undergo an initial operational phase lasting about four months, with full mission operations expected to begin in the first half of 2027. The launch will be streamed live on the Space Agency's YouTube channel.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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