The Korea Aerospace Research Institute has chosen Arianespace to launch the Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite-1 (COMS-1), Arianespace announced Dec. 4. COMS-1 will be placed into geostationary transfer orbit by an Ariane 5 in the first half of 2009.

The spacecraft, being manufactured by EADS Astrium will carry payloads that will perform meteorological observation and ocean surveillance and will also be fitted with an experimental payload to provide broadband multimedia communications services.