The launch of the next-generation medium-sized satellite No. 2, which was scheduled for the second half of this year, has been postponed again to the first half of next year.
According to the Korea AeroSpace Administration, there were plans to launch next-generation medium-sized satellites No. 2 and No. 4 together on a SpaceX rocket in the second half of this year. However, due to circumstances on the SpaceX side, the satellites could not be launched together, and they will be launched separately in the first half of next year.
The next-generation medium-sized satellite project, led by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), aims to create a 500kg-class standard satellite platform and transfer satellite technology to the private sector.
The next-generation medium-sized satellite No. 2, which can change its usage depending on the payload, is being developed as a land resource management and disaster response satellite, while next-generation medium-sized satellite No. 4 is being developed as an agricultural satellite.
Originally, next-generation medium-sized satellite No. 2 was scheduled to be launched in the second half of 2022 using a Russian rocket. However, due to the impacts of the Ukraine-Russia war, the launch has been continuously postponed, and ultimately, the contract with Russia was terminated.
Subsequently, KAI signed a launch contract for next-generation medium-sized satellite No. 4 with SpaceX in July 2021, based on which it also signed a launch contract for satellite No. 2 in December 2023. However, after SpaceX indicated that the launch would be difficult, it has been postponed multiple times and ultimately pushed to next year.
An official from the Space Administration noted, "SpaceX planned to launch together with other satellites in the second half of the year, but due to issues with the schedules of the other satellites, we have to launch No. 2 and No. 4 separately, which is why it has been pushed to next year." The official expected, "Satellite No. 2 will be launched early next year, and No. 4 around mid-next year."
With this delay, next-generation medium-sized satellite No. 2 will ultimately be launched later than next-generation medium-sized satellite No. 3, which is set to be carried into space by the Korean launch vehicle Nuri in November.