Korea to launch Chollian No. 3 satellite on SpaceX rocket in 2027

No. 3 satellite [Courtesy of Korea Aerospace Research Institute]

South Korea’ next-generation communications satellite, Chollian No. 3, will be launched in the second half of 2027 on Falcon 9, a launch vehicle produced by the U.S. spacecraft manufacturer SpaceX Corp.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute and the Korea AeroSpace Administration announced on Thursday that they have signed an agreement with SpaceX for the launch on Wednesday.

The third version of the Chollian communications satellite is a geostationary satellite at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers, rotating in sync with the Earth’s rotation. The 3.5-ton satellite will carry three communication payloads.

The Korean government is expected to develop the satellite on its own, with some technical support from international institutes, particularly for developing the three communication payloads—including the broadband communications payload.