STSAT-2A

STSAT -2A (Science and Technology Satellite -2) is the name of satellites of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute ( KARI ), the national space agency of South Korea.

It was launched on 25 August 2009 with a KSLV rocket from the Naro Space Center in Goheung County. The start is not considered to be only partially successful because the satellite is only in 360 km separated instead of the intended 302 km height from the rocket and so flies in a high orbit. The 100 -kg satellite has a payload a Lyman-alpha Imaging Solar Telescope ( LIST) as well as a satellite laser reflector ( SLR) with nine reflectors. It was developed by the Satellite Technology Research Center ( SaTReC ) and should solar research, the measurement of the orbit and serve as a technology demonstrator. The satellite is three-axis stabilized, the stabilization via analog and digital sun sensors, and GPS receiver takes place. The energy supply is about providing the 160 watt solar panels boom with GaInP2/GaAs/Ge solar cells (triple junction), the data transfer is done in S- and X-band. The life expectancy is specified with more than two years.

Of the 106 -pound predecessor STSAT -1 (also called Kaistsat 4) was launched on September 27, 2003 by a rocket -type Kosmos 3M in an earth orbit. The launch of the successor STSAT -2B should be on 9 June 2010, but had to be postponed at short notice. The second launch attempt exploded on 10 June 2010, the carrier rocket 137 seconds after launch, the satellite was destroyed. A third specimen, called STSAT -2C, was then put in orbit on 30 January 2013. This was the first successful orbital launch of South Korea.