Arirang 7 satellite successfully makes first contact with ground station

(Arianespace)

Arirang 7, a multipurpose earth-observation satellite, was successfully launched on Tuesday from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana, according to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA).

Arirang-7 separated from Arianespace Vega-C launch vehicle 44 minutes after liftoff and established its first communication with the Troll Satellite Station 1 hour and 9 minutes later.

Through communication with the ground station, KARI confirmed the satellite’s initial status, and verification from the launch service provider confirmed that the satellite successfully reached its target orbit.

During the initial contact, the satellite’s condition, including the deployment of solar panels, was checked. After four rounds of ground station communication, KASA officially announced the successful launch.

“The satellite entered its planned orbit after separation, and telemetry confirmed normal operation,” said Lee Sang-gon, project manager for Arirang 7.

Arirang 7 will undergo orbital testing before beginning full-scale imaging operations in the first half of 2026.

Equipped with a high-resolution optical camera capable of distinguishing objects down to 0.3 meters, the satellite is designed to support disaster response, land and environmental monitoring, public safety missions, and analysis of urban heat-island patterns.