한국항공우주연구원

- Final Step of Assembly and Testing to Begin in May 2016 -

□ The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP) and Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) disclosed that they completed the detailed design of Cheollian 2 and will begin its assembly and testing in May 2016.
※ Cheollian 1 (Communication, Ocean, and Meteorological Satellite: COMS), Cheollian 2 (Geo-stationary Multi-purpose Satellite; 2A: Meteorological/Space Meteorological Observation Satellite, 2B: Oceanic/Environmental Observation Satellite)

ㅇ The Cheollian Satellite 2 project is the interdepartmental satellite development project managed by the MSIP and is participated in by the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, and Korea Meteorological Administration. Its purpose is to inherit the meteorological/oceanic observation operation of Cheollian 1 and to observe the environment.

ㅇ Cheollian 2 monitors the Korean Peninsula 24 hours a day with four times the resolution of Cheollian 1 and will be used for weather forecasting, monitoring of marine pollution, and monitoring of atmospheric pollution around the Korean Peninsula.

ㅇ After the assembly and testing from May of this year to 2018, Cheollian 2A and Cheollian 2B will be launched from Guyana Space Center in South America in May 2018 and March 2019, respectively, and operate for 10 or so years.

□ The assembly and testing of the satellite is the last step of the satellite development before the satellite launch is decided on.

ㅇ The step involves the flight model of the satellite main body and payload (meteorological/environmental/marine) and final assembly/testing of the main body and payload. The flight model of the satellite to be launched will be developed as part of the step.

□ The Cheollian 2 project has focused on securing key technologies and improving the capabilities to develop the key parts based on the technology accumulated in previous satellite development projects.

ㅇ Successful completion of preliminary and detailed designs have enabled Korea to have the original platform design technology like the US, Russia, China, and Japan.

ㅇ Development of the satellite structure, thermal control parts, and satellite loaded computer with Korean technology is expected to lay the ground for advancement in the domestic satellite industry.

□ The Cheollian 2 satellite will provide the high resolution satellite images of meteorological, marine, and environmental observations to improve the convenience of citizens’ lives.


Improved Resolution
4 times (marine)/4 times (meteorological)/7km (environmental)
Cheollian 1 / Cheollian 2
(Increased resolution of meteorological/marine/environmental observation images)

Meteorological Payload
5 channels / 16 channels
Cheollian 1 / Cheollian 2
(Expansion of meteorological outputs <16 types → 52 types> and improvement of weather threat monitoring)

Marine Payload
8 channels / 13 channels
Cheollian 1 / Cheollian 2
(Expansion of marine outputs <13 types → 38 types>) and improvement of marine monitoring)

Environmental Payload
Hyperspectral (0.6mm)
Cheollian 1 / Cheollian 2
(Support of atmospheric pollution and weather forecast and real-time moving observation of atmospheric pollutants)


ㅇ The geostationary meteorological observation satellite will provide the urgent meteorological data such as for weather forecasting and torrential rain in the rainy season more quickly in four times the resolution to protect the lives of citizens.

ㅇ The geostationary marine observation satellite will support timely response to coastal marine disaster and effective management of marine territory by precise monitoring of red tides, cold pools, and the fishing ground environment in four times the resolution.

ㅇ The world’s first geostationary environmental observation satellite will be able to more accurately forecast worsening of the atmospheric environment such as with the inflow of particulate matters from surrounding countries to protect the citizens’ health.