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South Korea Launches NEONSAT-1A Nanosatellite for Disaster Monitoring

South Korea has successfully launched the NEONSAT-1A nanosatellite into orbit aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from New Zealand. This launch is a key step in a national project to build an 11-satellite constellation for Earth observation by 2027. The satellite, developed by KAIST, is equipped with a high-resolution camera designed for near-real-time monitoring of natural disasters around the Korean Peninsula. The NEONSAT program is a collaborative effort across Korean institutions and is funded by the government's Ministry of Science and ICT.

Key Points: S. Korea Launches Nanosatellite for Earth Observation Constellation

  • NEONSAT-1A launched on Rocket Lab's Electron
  • Part of 11-satellite constellation project
  • Aims for real-time disaster monitoring by 2027
  • Funded by South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT
  • Rocket Lab's 81st successful launch
2 min read

S. Korea launches nanosatellite for satellite constellation project

South Korea's NEONSAT-1A nanosatellite launched to orbit, advancing a constellation project to monitor the Korean Peninsula for natural disasters by 2027.

"LIFTOFF! Electron is on its way to orbit with the NEONSAT-1A satellite - Rocket Lab"

Seoul, Jan 30

A South Korean nanosatellite was launched into orbit on Friday as part of the nation's project to create a satellite constellation for Earth observation by 2027, according to the Korea AeroSpace Administration.

The NEONSAT-1A, an Earth observation satellite, lifted off aboard the Electron rocket of US space company Rocket Lab from the firm's Mahia Launch Complex in New Zealand, Yonhap news agency reported.

"LIFTOFF! Electron is on its way to orbit with the NEONSAT-1A satellite," Rocket Lab posted on social media platform X.

Developed by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), the satellite was the second among a total of 11 nanosatellites to form a satellite constellation aimed at monitoring and taking images of the Korean Peninsula and its surrounding regions.

Previously, just one satellite in the program had reached low Earth orbit - NEONSAT-1, which flew atop an Electron in April 2024.

NEONSAT-1A is an advanced Earth observation satellite equipped with a high-resolution optical camera. It is, however, not a satellite constellation yet.

Designed to capture near-real-time natural disaster monitoring for the Korean peninsula, KAIST's NEONSAT constellation is a collaboration across multiple Korean academic, industry, and research institutions, including SaTReC, which is leading the programme's system design and engineering, as per Rocket Lab.

The NEONSAT programme is funded by the Korean government's Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT).

This was Rocket Lab's second launch of 2026 and its 81st overall to date.

The company launched 21 missions last year, setting a new record for Rocket Lab.

"MISSION SUCCESS! Payload deployment is confirmed for the 'Bridging The Swarm' mission for KAIST," Rocket Lab posted on X.

This is the second launch in eight days and the 81st launch in total, with 100 per cent mission success in 2026, the US-based company added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The focus on near-real-time natural disaster monitoring is so crucial. Given the climate challenges we face in India with floods and cyclones, such satellite constellations could be a game-changer for early warning systems. Hope we see more international collaboration on this front.
R
Rohit P
Interesting that they're using a US company's rocket (Rocket Lab) for the launch. I wonder about the cost-benefit compared to developing their own launch vehicles. Still, getting the tech into orbit is what matters most. The 100% mission success rate for 2026 is impressive!
S
Sarah B
While this is a positive step, the article mentions it's just the second of eleven satellites. The 2027 target for the full constellation seems ambitious. I hope the project stays on track and doesn't face the delays that often plague such large-scale tech projects.
K
Karthik V
Great to see KAIST and other Korean institutions leading this. It shows how important strong academic-industry collaboration is for national projects. India's DRDO and ISRO partnerships with IITs come to mind. This is the way forward for self-reliance in critical technology.
M
Michael C
The high-resolution optical camera for Earth observation has obvious benefits, but it also raises questions about data privacy and how the imagery might be used beyond disaster monitoring. These are important conversations to have as more nations deploy such constellations.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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