Gyeonggi Climate Satellite Successfully Enters Orbit

“3, 2, 1…Launch!”

At 3:44 a.m. on the 29th, cheers and applause erupted from the studio on the first basement floor of the Gyeonggi Provincial Library in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, during the early morning hours.

On that day, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the ‘Gyeonggi Climate Satellite-1 (GYEONGGISat-1)’ successfully lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the United States. The Gyeonggi Climate Satellite is the name of the climate-observation artificial satellite launched into space by Gyeonggi Province, the first local government in South Korea to do so. The launch was streamed live on YouTube.

Approximately 56 minutes after liftoff, at 4:40 a.m., the Gyeonggi Climate Satellite-1 was ejected from the rocket as it entered orbit. About an hour later, it successfully transmitted and received information.

The Gyeonggi Climate Satellite is a miniature satellite measuring 20 cm in width, 20 cm in depth, and 40 cm in height. It is also called a “CubeSat.” Roughly the size of a rice cooker or microwave oven, it weighs only about 25 kg. A source from Gyeonggi Province said, “It may be small, but its functions are robust.”

The satellite contains a high-resolution optical camera and a satellite operation system. It captures an area of 14x40 km per pass when it flies over Gyeonggi Province at an altitude of approximately 500 km above the Earth’s surface. The satellite monitors natural disaster damage such as floods and wildfires, as well as vegetation and land changes. It is powered by solar panels installed on board. It is designed to operate for three years and will automatically decommission by falling to Earth at the end of its lifespan.

The Gyeonggi Climate Satellite is expected to collect climate-related data, including greenhouse gas emissions, and high-resolution, high-precision spatial information for use in science-based policies. For example, satellite images can be used to quickly assess the extent of damage, recovery progress, and areas affected by disasters. It can also detect illegal activities in protected forest areas and development-restricted zones, as well as monitor land use. Additionally, it can track the locations and conditions of major crops and precisely observe methane gas emission sources.

The satellite launch was initiated in August of last year when Governor Kim Dong-yeon announced, “The local government will respond scientifically to the accelerating climate crisis.”

The satellite was designed and manufactured by Gyeonggi Province in collaboration with the private company Naraspace. By using already developed or proven technologies in a private-sector-led approach, the province was able to launch the satellite at relatively low cost and in a short timeframe. The Gyeonggi Climate Satellite consists of a total of three units. The first satellite launched this time is an optical satellite, while the remaining two are greenhouse gas observation satellites. The total cost, including 4.5 billion Korean won from Gyeonggi Province and 14.4 billion Korean won from the private company, amounted to 18.9 billion Korean won. The second (GYEONGGISat-2A) and third (GYEONGGISat-2B) satellites are scheduled to be launched sequentially next year.

The names of 500 residents, selected through a lottery, are engraved inside the satellite. A source from Gyeonggi Province said, “Now, Gyeonggi Province exists even in space.”

Gyeonggi Province is also operating a ‘Climate Satellite Temporary Situation Room’ at the Citizen’s Rest Area of the Gyeonggi Credit Guarantee Foundation next to the provincial government office. Citizens can view the process from the satellite’s production to its launch, as well as its expected effects, all in one place.

Governor Kim said, “The data collected by the satellite will be a major turning point not only for scientific responses to the climate crisis but also for fostering the climate tech industry. The Gyeonggi Climate Satellite, the first launched by a local government in collaboration with the private sector, will become a ‘space partner’ that opens a new space era for South Korea.”

Meanwhile, the satellite launch was postponed four times—from the 12th to the 20th, 21st, 27th, and 29th—due to local circumstances at SpaceX in the United States.