Key facts
- South Korea's fourth next-generation medium-sized satellite launch is scheduled for July 9.
- The satellite is a 500-kilogram Earth observation satellite.
- It will be jointly utilized by the Rural Development Administration and the Korea Forest Service.
- The launch will take place from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
- This mission marks the Korea AeroSpace Administration's (KASA) third satellite launch in less than a year.
South Korea is preparing to launch its fourth next-generation medium-sized satellite on July 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The 500-kilogram Earth observation satellite, jointly utilized by the Rural Development Administration and the Korea Forest Service, will support applications such as crop growth analysis and wildfire monitoring. This launch marks the Korea AeroSpace Administration's (KASA) third satellite mission in less than a year, following the successful deployments of Multipurpose Satellite 7 and next-generation medium-sized satellite No. 2.
However, the launch of South Korea's Arirang 6 satellite has been postponed to the second quarter of 2027 due to delays in the development of a foreign co-passenger satellite. Meanwhile, preparations for the fifth launch of the homegrown Nuri space rocket are proceeding on schedule, with full vehicle integration expected to begin next week and a launch anticipated in September.
KASA administrator Oh Tae-seok highlighted the growing demand for launches and announced plans to construct a second national space center. The site selection is slated for October, with the project commencing in 2028, aiming to support reusable launch vehicles by the mid-2030s. South Korea currently operates only one launch facility, the Naro Space Center.