| KOMPSAT-3 | |
| Names List: | Korean Multi-purpose Satellite-3 Arirang-3 |
| Mission Type: | Earth observation |
| Operator: | Korea Aerospace Research Institute |
| Cospar Id: | 2012-025B |
| Satcat: | 38338 |
| Mission Duration: | 4 years (planned) (in progress) |
| Spacecraft Type: | KOMPSAT |
| Manufacturer: | Korea Aerospace Industries Korea Aerospace Research Institute EADS Astrium (bus) |
| Dimensions: | 2.9 m in diameter x 3.5 m in height |
| Power: | 1.3 kW |
| Launch Date: | 17 May 2012, 16:39 UTC |
| Launch Rocket: | H-IIA (202) (# 21) |
| Launch Site: | Tanegashima Space Center |
| Launch Contractor: | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Entered Service: | 29 March 2013 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric orbit[1] |
| Orbit Regime: | Sun-synchronous orbit |
| Orbit Inclination: | 98.13° |
| Orbit Period: | 98.5 minutes |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Instruments: | Advanced Earth Imaging Sensor System (AEISS) |
| Programme: | KOMPSAT programme |
| Previous Mission: | KOMPSAT-2 |
| Next Mission: | KOMPSAT-5 |
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]
KOMPSAT-3 orbits at a height of, circling the Earth 14 times per day, and is expected to maintain that orbit for 4 years. It weighs . 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.
The satellite was succeeded by KOMPSAT-5 and KOMPSAT-3A, which were launched on 2013 and 2015 respectively.
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]
KOMPSAT-3 operates in a near-polar, circular Sun-synchronous orbit. The orbital parameters are:
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:
| scope=col | mode | scope=col | Channel | scope=col | Spectral band | scope=col | Spatial resolution | scope=col | 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 |
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.
KOMPSAT-3 is designed for very-high-resolution (VHR) remote-sensing applications, such as:
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]