The launch of the homegrown satellite Arirang 7 (Multipurpose Practical Satellite 7), capable of ultra-precise observation of Earth, is now one day away. Arirang 7 is equipped with a world-class ultra-high-resolution camera that can readily identify small objects the size of a pizza·laptop computer on the ground from Earth orbit. It is expected to be used for disaster response and environmental·maritime monitoring.

The European Space Agency (ESA) announced in official materials that the launch vehicle Vega-C, operated by the European company Arianespace, is scheduled to lift off from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana, South America, at 2:21 p.m. on the 1st (local time), carrying the Korean Arirang 7. In Korean Standard Time, that is 2:21 a.m. on the 2nd.

ESA stated that “it will take about 45 minutes for Arirang 7 to be placed into orbit after launch”. Arirang 7 will climb to an altitude of about 500㎞.

The most notable feature of Aria 7, developed by the Aerospace Administration and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, is its outstanding observation capability. This is because it carries the electro-optical camera ‘AEISS-HR’. Through this, it observes the ground at an ultra-high resolution of the 0.3ｍ class.

A 0.3ｍ class resolution means observing by dividing ground objects into square units measuring 0.3ｍ in width·height. It can identify objects on the ground the size of a pizza, a laptop computer, or paving blocks.

While reading the numbers on a license plate may be difficult, it can easily determine whether a specific vehicle captured by the camera is a sedan or a sport utility vehicle (SUV). For a commercial satellite, this is world-leading resolution. Its performance is on par with Earth observation satellites operated by space-advanced countries such as the United States.

Arirang 7 will use these observation capabilities to monitor disasters·emergencies occurring around the Korean Peninsula and will also be used for tracking marine pollution and map production. In short, it will be utilized for overall national land management.

ESA stated that it plans to live-stream on the internet via Arianespace YouTube the Vega-C launch that will carry Arirang 7 into space.