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CAS500 Compact Advanced Satellite

In the Phase 1 program, yhe plan includes the development of the 500 kg-class standard platform for the CAS500 series and two 50 cm-class high-resolution Compact Advanced Satellites using the platform. KARI and the industry will jointly develop the CAS500-1, and KARI will transfer the core technologies to the industry. For the CAS500-2, the industry will be responsible for the overall development, with KARI performing the technical audit and technical support.

The purpose of the 500 kg-class Compact Advanced Satellite is to meet the demand for satellite in the public sector effectively, expand the foundation for the domestic satellite industry, and foster the industry. The CAS500 series plans to apply the standard platform developed for the CAS500-1 to the subsequent CAS500 series and carry various localized payloads.

In the phase 2 program, the Industry plans to develop three satellites for the verification of space science and technology, observation of agricultural and forest conditions, and control of water resources and disaster. KARI will performing the technical management & supervison.

South Korea's next-generation mid-sized satellite successfully launched 22 March 2021, two days later than originally scheduled. The satellite made a successful contact with a ground control center in South Korea last night, beginning preparations to carry out its mission. From the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Russia's Soyuz 2.1a rocket blasted offand soared into the sky, gushing out a flare of flames. It was loaded with South Korea's home-grown next-generation satellite. The mid-sized satellite got separated from the rocket 64 minutes after its launch. Some 38 minutes later, it made successful contact with a base station in Norway. It then made a contact with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute's ground control center at 11:24 p.m. Monday while flying over the Korean Peninsula at an altitude of 497.8 kilometers for the first time.

Chung Dae-won (Korea Aerospace Research Institute) : "The next-generation mid-sized satellite is a result of a six-year-project that began in 2015. It is a high-precision observation satellite." With the satellite's successful launch, South Korea's space industry is predicted to gain more momentum and vitality, as the private sector will take the lead in developing satellites. Park Eung-sik (Korea Aerospace Research Institute) : "We are now developing more next-generation mid-sized satellites. We will be able to meet the domestic demand and even export satellites overseas in the long term." The satellite will first undergo a six-month initial operation and begin providing its collection of data after October 2021.

Equipped with a domestically developed imaging sensor system, the satellite will conduct its four-year observation mission at almost 500 kilometers above the earth's surface. With the spatial data collected, operators can make video maps of border regions where aircraft cannot fly over like North Korea. Also, in the event of a national emergency or a natural disaster like a forest fire or a flood, operators can use this satellite passing over the Korean Peninsula to film the area and quickly provide related information.

Another mid-sized satellite will be launched in 2022, with Korea Aerospace Industries overseeing the job.