Five Nanosatellites Launched Aboard Nuri Successfully Capture Earth Images 14 Hours After Launch

Automatic Checks and Stabilization Immediately After Launch... All Five Satellites Operating Normally
Six Months of Image Quality Improvements and Constellation Formation... Full-Scale Operations in Jeju Next Year

The five ultra-small cluster satellites that headed into space aboard the Nuri launch vehicle obtained their first Earth observation images about 14 hours after launch. Technology that automatically checks and stabilizes the satellites immediately after launch was applied, shortening the time needed to acquire the initial images. All five satellites are operating normally, clearing the first hurdle toward future cluster operations.

The Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) and KAIST announced on October 15 that ultra-small cluster satellites No. 2 through 6, which entered orbit aboard the fifth Nuri launch at 12:25 p.m. on October 7, had successfully captured their first Earth observation images 14 hours and 29 minutes after launch and transmitted them to a ground station.

The area around Cleveland, Ohio, captured at 2:54 a.m. KST on the 8th by the fourth ultra-small cluster satellite, launched aboard the Nuri launch vehicle on the 7th. This was its first Earth observation image, obtained 14 hours and 29 minutes after launch, clearly showing roads and buildings at a resolution of about 1 meter. Provided by the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA).

The acquisition of these images shows that not only the satellite buses but also the optical payloads used to photograph the ground are operating normally. All five satellites are currently communicating smoothly with ground stations, and key functions, including power generation and attitude control, are also operating as expected.

The rapid image acquisition was made possible by drawing on operational experience with the prototype and verification satellites launched earlier. Based on orbital operation data from the earlier satellites, the research team improved the initial inspection procedures and automated satellite status checks and stabilization immediately after separation from the launch vehicle. The technology takes into account the characteristics of cluster satellites, which must be operated simultaneously.

Image Quality to Be Improved Over Six Months as Satellites Prepare for Cluster Operations

Acquiring the first images does not mean the satellites are immediately ready for operational use. Over the next six months or so, calibration and validation work will be needed to improve the positional accuracy and image quality of the satellite imagery. The satellites must also be positioned in orbit to form a cluster, maintaining set intervals so that the five satellites can observe Earth.

Ultra-small cluster satellites are a system that uses multiple small satellites to repeatedly observe the same area. By complementing the coverage of individual satellites and shortening the revisit interval, the system can be used in a range of fields, including disaster monitoring and national security.

After completing initial operations, KASA and KAIST plan to transfer satellite operations to the Jeju National Satellite Operation Center next year. The imagery collected will then be put to full-scale use in public-sector fields, including disaster response and national security.

“This early acquisition of images is a meaningful achievement that demonstrates the stable in-orbit operation of ultra-small satellites mass-produced using domestic technology, building on the technological assets developed through the operation of the prototype and verification satellites,” said Tae seog Oh, head of KASA. “We will complete initial operations without a hitch and ensure they lead to satellite information services that the public can experience firsthand.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.