KOMPSAT-3A satellite Information

KOMPSAT-3A is an optical satellite with less than half meter product resolution, which is a part of Korean earth observation mission by KARI (Korea Aerospace Research Institute).

Mission

The main mission objectives of KOMPSAT-3A system are to provide the following applications:
  • Continuation of satellite earth observation after KOMPSAT-1, KOMPSAT-2, and KOMPSAT-3 to meet national need
  • Provision of the high-resolution EO (Electro-Optical) images required for GIS (Geographical Information Systems) establishment and the applications for environmental, agriculture and ocean monitoring

Launch

The KOMPSAT-3A was launched on March 25, 2015 (UTC) on a Dnepr-1 vehicle (RS-20) from the Jasny Dombarovsky launch site in Russia.

Orbit

Sun-synchronous near-circular orbit, altitude 528 km, inclination 97.5˚, period 95.2 minutes. LTAN (Local Time on Ascending Node) is 13:30 hours.

Imaging modes

KOMPSAT-3A supports various missions using agile maneuver such as strip imaging, multi point imaging, single pass stereo imaging.

Strip Imaging

For the strip imaging, the spacecraft bus is slewed about the roll and the pitch axis into the reference attitude before the imaging starts. During imaging, this reference attitude is kept nearly constant. Yaw steering is performed during imaging for image quality.

Multi Point Imaging

Multi point imaging is to collect several place image where is left, right, up and down side from satellite pass in a single pass. In this image collection, the satellite has to be tilted in roll & pitch direction as required before starting imaging. During imaging period, satellite has no maneuvers like strip imaging. Yaw steering is performed during imaging for image quality.

Single Pass Stereo Imaging

The single pass stereo imaging is to collect the stereo image of a target during a single pass. It is similar to multi pointing imaging.