KOMPSAT-7 First Images Revealed

The first images from South Korea’s KOMPSAT-7 (Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite-7), launched late last year, have now been released. Using a high-resolution camera capable of identifying vehicle types and detecting the presence of people, the satellite captured test images of Seoul’s Jamsil Olympic Stadium, Lotte Tower, and the Egyptian pyramids.

An image of Pyramids in Cairo, Egypt, captured by KOMPSAT-7. Image Source: KASA.

On the 17th March, the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) revealed these initial images along with early operational results from the satellite’s onboard systems.

KOMPSAT-7 is a high resolution optical Earth observation satellite, offering a maximum resolution of 30 cm for panchromatic imagery and 1.2 m for colour. Resolution refers to the ability to distinguish between separate objects. By comparison, KOMPSAT-3A provides 55 cm resolution in panchromatic and 2.2 m in colour. This level of detail makes it possible to differentiate between vehicle types, such as buses, trucks and cars, and even determine whether people are present in the area of imagery capture. Currently, the most advanced satellites can achieve panchromatic resolutions of around 10–15 cm.

An image of Lotte Tower in Jamsil, Seoul, captured by KOMPSAT-7. Image Source: KASA.

KOMPSAT-7 continues a line of observation satellites that began with KOMPSAT-1, launched in 1999 with a resolution of 6.6 m. With key components, including its electro-optical payload, developed domestically, the satellite is expected to significantly improve South Korea’s ability to precisely monitor land, resources and disasters, including events such as bushfires.

The satellite was launched from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana on 2 December last year. It is currently undergoing calibration from 20 February to 30 June, with full operational service scheduled to begin on 1 July.

Once tasking capabilities are fully enabled, KOMPSAT-7 is expected to be integrated into the Geoimage library of services through its partners at SIIS, expanding user access to its high-resolution data. This addition will enhance the availability of continuous, high-quality Earth observation imagery, creating new opportunities for more frequent monitoring, improved temporal coverage and more responsive data acquisition across a wide range of applications.

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