South Korea completes development of micro-satellite constellation

South Korea has completed the development of its first mass-produced micro-satellite constellation, consisting of five units (Satellites 2 through 6). These satellites, each weighing less than 100kg, are equipped with electro-optical cameras capable of capturing black-and-white images at 1m resolution and color images at 4m resolution.

Developed through a collaboration between the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) and KAIST, the satellites are scheduled to be launched later this year aboard the fifth flight of the Nuri launch vehicle. This project marks a transition from single-satellite manufacturing to a mass-production and constellation operation model.

Once the full constellation of 10 satellites is established by 2027, the system will be capable of imaging the Korean Peninsula more than three times a day and revisiting the same location within a 24-hour window. The constellation is intended to enhance national security monitoring, disaster response, and global earth observation capabilities.