The second next-generation medium-size satellite (Land satellite 2), which will carry out a national land observation mission, is heading to space.
The Korea AeroSpace Administration and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said the second next-generation medium-size satellite will launch at 3:59 p.m. on the 3rd (Korea time) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The second next-generation medium-size satellite completed prelaunch preparations on site over about 30 days, including functional checks and propellant loading. It is now mounted on SpaceX's launch vehicle "Falcon 9," awaiting liftoff.
About 60 minutes after Falcon 9 lifts off, the satellite is scheduled to separate from the launch vehicle. About 15 minutes later—75 minutes after launch—it will attempt first contact with the Svalbard ground station in Norway. Through this contact, controllers will confirm whether the satellite has entered its target orbit normally.
After launch, the second next-generation medium-size satellite will undergo an initial operations phase for about four months in an orbit at an altitude of about 498 km. It is then planned to begin full-scale mission operations in the second half of 2026.