IANS | 23 Apr, 2024
South Korea is set to launch a homegrown earth observation
nanosatellite into space this week, as part of its plan to create the
country's satellite constellation by 2027, the country's science
ministry said on Tuesday.
According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, the nanosatellite,
the first unit of the envisioned satellite constellation, will be
launched from Rocket Lab's spaceport in Mahia, New Zealand, at around
10:08 a.m. on Wednesday (local time), Yonhap news agency said.
The
satellite, named NEONSAT-1, will be launched on Rocket Lab's Electron
rocket along with the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System created by
the US space agency NASA.
NEONSAT stands for New-space Earth Observation SATellite constellation for national safety.
NEONSAT-1,
less than 100 kilograms in weight, will be the first among 11
nanosatellites to form a satellite constellation to monitor and take
images of the Korean Peninsula and its surrounding waters, the report
said.
South Korea plans to launch five more nanosatellites into
space in June 2026 and five more in September 2027, according to the
ministry.
