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KOMPSAT-3 (Korean Multi-purpose Satellite-3), also known as Arirang-3,[2] is a South Korean multipurpose Earth observation satellite. It was launched from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan at 16:39 UTC on 17 May 2012. Like the earlier KOMPSAT-1 and KOMPSAT-2 satellites, it takes its name from the popular Korean folk song Arirang. Its launch was the culmination of a project begun in 1995.[3]
 | |
| Names | Korean Multi-purpose Satellite-3 Arirang-3 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Earth observation |
| Operator | Korea Aerospace Research Institute |
| COSPAR ID | 2012-025B |
| SATCAT no. | 38338 |
| Mission duration | 4 years (planned) 12 years and 7 months (in progress) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | KOMPSAT |
| Manufacturer | Korea Aerospace Industries Korea Aerospace Research Institute EADS Astrium (bus) |
| Launch mass | 980 kg (2,160 lb) |
| Dimensions | 2.9 m in diameter x 3.5 m in height |
| Power | 1.3 kW |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 17 May 2012, 16:39 UTC |
| Rocket | H-IIA (202) (# 21) |
| Launch site | Tanegashima Space Center |
| Contractor | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Entered service | 29 March 2013 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit[1] |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous orbit |
| Altitude | 685 km (426 mi) |
| Inclination | 98.13° |
| Period | 98.5 minutes |
| Instruments | |
| Advanced Earth Imaging Sensor System (AEISS) | |
KOMPSAT programme | |
KOMPSAT-3 orbits at a height of 685.1 km (425.7 mi), circling the Earth 14 times per day, and is expected to maintain that orbit for 4 years. It weighs 980 kg (2,160 lb). The satellite carries an Advanced Earth Imaging Sensor System (AEISS), which can distinguish to a 70-cm resolution, allowing the identification of individual vehicles on the ground.[4]
The satellite was succeeded by KOMPSAT-5 and KOMPSAT-3A, which were launched on 2013 and 2015 respectively.
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South Korea started the KOMPSAT programme in 1995 to nurture its national Earth-imaging industry and supply services for remote-sensing applications. The South Korean KOMPSAT-3 Earth-imaging satellite was developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), in partnership with EADS Astrium, to assure continuity with the KOMPSAT-2 satellite launched in 2006. KOMPSAT-3 was orbited on 17 May 2012 by a launch vehicle from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan. SI Imaging Services is the worldwide exclusive distributor of KOMPSAT imagery since November 2012.[4]
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Orbit
KOMPSAT-3 operates in a near-polar, circular Sun-synchronous orbit. The orbital parameters are:
- Mean altitude: 685.1 km
- Mass: 980 kg
- Inclination: 98.13° (Sun-synchronous orbit)
- Orbital period: 98.5 minutes
- Orbital cycle: 28 days
Instruments
KOMPSAT-3's instruments are designed to acquire high- and very-high-resolution imagery with a footprint of 16.8 km. The satellite has the capacity to acquire 20 minutes of imagery on each orbit and it can steer its sensors both ways out to 30° off track. Panchromatic and multispectral images can be acquired at the same time.
KOMPSAT-3 radiometer features:
| mode | Channel | Spectral band | Spatial resolution | Footprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multispectral | 1 | 0.45 - 0.52 μm (blue) | 2.8 m | 16.8 km |
| 2 | 0.52 - 0.60 μm (green) | 2.8 m | 16.8 km | |
| 3 | 0.63 - 0.69μm (rouge) | 2.8 m | 16.8 km | |
| 4 | 0.76 - 0.90 μm (near-infrared) | 2.8 m | 16.8 km | |
| Panchromatic | P | 0.50 - 0.90 μm (black and white) | 70 cm | 16.8 km |
Ground receiving stations
Two receiving stations deliver KOMPSAT-3 imagery 1 to 3 days after acquisition. The Deajeon station in South Korea is responsible for tasking the satellite.
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KOMPSAT-3 is designed for very-high-resolution (VHR) remote-sensing applications, such as:
- Land planning: to detect and identify features smaller than 1 square meter, e.g. vehicles, street furnishings, roads and bushes
- Agriculture: to pinpoint crop or tree diseases
- Urban planning and demographics: to locate detached houses
- Civil engineering: to plan road, railroad and oil pipeline corridors
- Defence: to describe high-value assets or military sites
It serves along with the existing Kompsat-2 to provide continuous satellite observation of the Korean Peninsula, sending images twice a day at 01:30 and 13:30.[5]
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