KOMPSat 3A (Arirang-3A)

Spacecraft nº:

South Korean spacecraft nº: 22

Launch data: Designation  40536 / 15014A Launch date  25 March 2015 - 22:08 UT Launch site  Do, LC-370/13 Yasniy Sh370/13 Launch vehicle  Dnepr Mission  Earth observation, Imaging Sun-synchronous Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  522 x 541 km Eccentricity   Inclination  97.5 ° Period  95.3 min

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• KOMPSat 3 (Korean Multi-purpose Satellite 3) is a lightweight Earth observation satellite developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute KARI. It will be similar to the KOMPSat 2 spacecraft. The optical component is being developed by Astrium.
• It will operate at an altitude of 685 km in a sun-synchronous orbit for 4 years and monitor the Korean peninsula using a payload capable of submeter class resolution. The mission objectives of the KOMPSAT-3 are to provide continuous satellite Earth observation after KOMPSat 1 and KOMPSat 2 and to meet the nation′s needs for high-resolution EO (Electro-Optical) images required for GIS (Geographical Information Systems) and other environmental, agricultural and oceanographic monitoring applications.
• The satellite will also help emergency managers respond to natural disasters. KARI manufactured the satellite in South Korea, and Europe′s Airbus Defense and Space supplied craft′s optical imaging camera suite. Kompsat 3A′s optical camera can resolve objects on the ground as small as 21 inches (55 centimeters) in panchromatic black-and-white mode. Color imagery will have lesser resolution. The infrared camera on Kompsat 3A is a first for South Korea′s Earth observation satellites. It will create thermal imagery, making it possible for analysts to see the ground at night with a resolution of 18 feet (5.5 meters), a capability suited for detecting wildfires and volcanic eruptions. KARI has partnered with commercial companies to sell Kompsat imagery to global customers. Kompsat 3A is the fifth satellite in the Kompsat series to fly since the first one launched in 1999. The fleet includes satellites with optical, all-weather radar and now infrared imaging sensors.

Mission details:

• South Korea's Arirang-3A (KOMPSAT-3A) imaging satellite was launched on a Kosmotras Dnepr from a silo at the Yasniy missile base in Russia on Mar 25, 2015 into a 522 x 540 km x 97.5 deg sun-synchronous orbit at 01:30 local time descending node. The Dnepr third stage ended up in a 524 x 1440 km orbit.

External links:

• Spaceflight 101: Satellite Information
  
• Satellite tracking: Real time satellite tracking