Arirang-2 satellite’s lifespan extended 2 more years

Korea Aerospace Research Institute said Wednesday that it will extend the operational life of its Arirang-2 multipurpose satellite for another two years.

Because the satellite is working normally despite surpassing its initial lifespan of three years in 2009, the operational life will be extended until July 2013, the institute said. This marked the second extension of the satellite’s lifespan.

The Arirang-2 is an earth observation satellite launched into the orbit by a Russian rocket on July 28, 2006, from Russia`s Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The Russian rocket developer Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center also manufactured the first-phase rocket for Korea’s first space projectile Naro.

The Arirang-2 is the lone Korean satellite that is operating. The Arirang-1, which was put into orbit in 1999, lost communication with ground control in late 2007.

One of the most important factors that determine a satellite`s lifespan is the amount of fuel, which is used to artificially move the satellite to avoid collision with space debris or other objects.

“The Arirang-2 has 46.3 kilograms of fuel left,” said a Korea Aerospace Research Institute source. “The satellite used 20.7 kilograms of fuel over the last two years, so it can operate well for another two years.”

A plethora of electronic components in the satellite are also reported to be in good shape.

The satellite has circled the globe more than 26,000 times and sent more than two million high-resolution pictures. The institute said that since 2007, it has sold 15,000 pictures taken by the Arirang-2.

The satellite also sent detailed pictures of earthquake-hit areas of Haiti in January last year to help relief workers better understand the routes for their transportation and delivery of emergency materials.

The Arirang-5 is scheduled for launch by a Dnepr rocket from Yasni, Russia, in October. Equipped with an all-weather imaging radar system, the new satellite is capable of observing the earth even in cloudy weather or at night.

Once the Arirang-5 starts operations, Korea can quickly monitor damage done by torrential rains.

In addition, the Arirang-3, a 70-centimeter resolution satellite, will go into orbit next year.

uneasy75@donga.com