Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) successfully launched the Next-Generation Medium Satellite 4 (NGMS 4) at 12:12 a.m. local time on July 7 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The satellite established communication with the Svalbard ground station in Norway at 3:05 a.m.
NGMS 4 is designed for wide-area agricultural observation, with future missions including monitoring crop yields, agricultural water resources, and forest resources. The satellite aims to meet various public sector demands by providing imagery with a 120-kilometer observation width and 5-meter resolution, enabling analysis of crop growth, greenhouse gas emissions, and forest resource predictions. It will also contribute to disaster response efforts by precisely monitoring forest degradation and wildfire damage.
Until now, South Korea lacked a dedicated agricultural observation satellite, but the development of NGMS 4 marks the country's first independent agricultural satellite.
The satellite will undergo initial operations and system checks before commencing its missions in the first half of next year.
KAI CEO Kim Jong-chul stated, "The successful launch of the fourth satellite, following the successful launch of the second Next-Generation Medium Satellite in May, is a result of public-private collaboration in the New Space era. We aim to expand satellite exports and space service businesses, paving the way for South Korea to become a space economy powerhouse."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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