The South Korean Earth observation satellite KOMPSAT-3A has been launched this week from Yasny Launch Base, in Russia.
KOMPSAT-3A is primarily designed to collect optical and infrared imagery for GIS applications associated with environmental, agricultural and oceanographic studies. The satellite will also help responding to natural disasters thanks to its 5.5m resolution IR (Infrared) sensor and 0.55m very high resolution EO (Electro-Optical). The mission is planned for four years and the orbit is a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 528 km.
KOMPSAT-3A has been designed and built by Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), a government-funded research institute located in South Korea, with the technical support of Airbus Defense and Space and German Aerospace Center (DLR).
