On the 15th, Satrec Initiative announced that it successfully launched the commercial earth observation satellite “SpaceEye-T,” developed with its own technology, and achieved communication with the ground station.
The satellite launch took place at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA, through SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. After entering its mission orbit, the satellite successfully communicated with a ground station located in Svalbard, Norway.
“SpaceEye-T” is a medium-sized earth observation satellite measuring about 3m in height and weighing approximately 650kg. It produces optical images with a resolution of 25cm, which is the highest level in the commercial category. This means it can recognize objects the size of 25cm by 25cm as a single pixel. The images generated by this satellite are precise enough to identify types of vehicles on roads, and it is noted that it has high applicability and market value in various fields such as national security, disaster response, and mapping.
According to a report by NovaSpace, the global earth observation satellite manufacturing market is expected to reach approximately $107 billion (about 155 trillion won) over the next decade. By 2032, the earth observation data and ancillary services market is projected to reach about $7.7 billion (approximately 11.2 trillion won), with high-resolution and ultra-high-resolution images expected to account for the majority of this market.
Currently, the global ultra-high-resolution satellite and satellite imagery market is competitive, with leading corporations such as Maxar from the USA, Airbus from Europe, and IAI from Israel. Satrec Initiative plans to continuously expand its market share in the ultra-high-resolution earth observation market through the commercialization of “SpaceEye-T” imagery.
Ee-Eul Kim, the representative of Satrec Initiative, noted, “We successfully developed and launched ultra-high-resolution optical satellites using the technology and experience accumulated over the past 25 years. This is a case that demonstrates the global competitiveness of South Korea’s private space technology,” and added, “We will contribute to the private-led space development through market share expansion and additional investment.”