Rendition of Ariane 6 and Vega C. Photo: European Space Agency (ESA)

Arianespace has been selected by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) to launch Kompsat-7. Arianespace Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Stephane Israël and KARI President Lim Cheol-Ho signed the Kompsat-7 launch contract today.

Using a Vega C launcher, the mission will be conducted from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, from December 2021. Developed by KARI at its facility in Daejeon, South Korea, Kompsat-7 will weigh approximately 2,000 kilograms at launch, and will be placed in a Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO). Kompsat-7. is the follow-up model of Kompsat-3A whose mission is to provide high-resolution satellite images to satisfy South-Korea’s governmental and institutional needs.

For nearly 30 years now, Arianespace and Korea’s satellite technology research centers have developed a sound relationship, with the launch of both scientific microsatellites (Kitsat A&B) and the multi-mission Coms satellite. Following the upcoming launches of GEO-Kompsat-2A & 2B, the Kompsat-7 will be the fourth KARI satellite, as well as the ninth Korean satellite, to be orbited by Arianespace to date.