KOMPSAT 3/3A

The imagery, acquired by KOMPSAT 3/3A can be obtained from SIIS (SI Imaging Services), which is an exclusive representative of the KOMPSAT constellation. Each product is provided as a specific set of data: pan + four multispectral or as four pansharpened bands. Image data processing levels:

Level 1R (Corrected for radiometric and sensor distortions)
Level 1O (Ortho-ready)
Level 1G (Geometric distortion correction by using SRTM DEM)

KOMPSAT 3 is an Earth observation mission of Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), funded by Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) within the Korean government space development program. The project started in 2004 to continue KOMPSAT-1 and KOMPSAT-2 missions and provide high-res satellite imagery for Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and the following applied fields: agriculture, environment, oceanography and natural disasters.

Launch

KOMPSAT-3 (Arirang-3) satellite was launched on the H-IIA system on May 17, 2012 from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. KOMPSAT 3A (Arirang-3A) joined the mission on March 25, 2015. It was launched on a Dnepr-1 vehicle (RS-20) from the Jasny Dombarovsky launch site, Russia, to the lower than KOMPSAT 3 sun-synchronous orbit.

Equipment

To meet the demand for high-resolution imagery from government, both satellites are equipped with a pushbroom imager, AEISS (Advanced Earth Imaging Sensor System), developed by KARI in cooperation with EADS Astrium GmbH, Friedrichshafen. It is delivering the highest resolution data among the cameras installed on domestic satellites and is capable of acquiring images with maximum spatial resolution of 50-70 cm.

AEISS technical specifications:
Characteristic	Description
Band configuration	PAN: 450-900 µm MS1 (Blue): 450-520 µm MS2 (Green): 520-600 µm MS3 (Red): 630-690 µm MS4 (NIR): 760-900 µm
Optics	Korsch-type telescope 80 cm diameter of primary light weight mirror aperture Five mirrors of Zerodur design Focal length = 8.6 m F number = f/12
GSD (Ground Sample Distance)	0.5-0.7 m (Pan band, nadir) 2.2-2.8 m (MS bands, nadir)
Swath width	1 km (at nadir)
Tilt angle	Roll: ±45º, pitch: ±30º
Location accuracy	< 48.5 m CE90
Pan CCD detector module	Line array of 24,000 pixels. 2 stacks of 12 k pixels each TDI (Time Delay Integration), < 64 TDI in 4 stages Pixel pitch = 8.75 µm Source data rate = 16 x 15 Mpixel/s (or 3.84 Gbit/s)
MS CCD detector module	Line array of 6,000 pixels, provision of 8 stacks, TDI capability Pixel pitch = 2 x 17.5 µm Binning of MS pixels Source data rate = 4 x 240 Mbit/s
Anti-blooming	Yes
PRNU (Photo Response Non-Uniformity)	Yes
DSNU (Dark Signal Non-Uniformity)	Yes
SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio)	> 100 for Pan and MS
Radiometric resolution	14 bit
Data compression	CCSDS 120.1-G-1E
Payload data memory	512 Gbit
Data rate	1 GB/s

Notwithstanding KOMPSAT 3’s capacity to deliver panchromatic optical images at a nominal ground sampling distance (GSD) of 70 cm, the next satellite was enhanced with thermal infrared sensor, therefore KOMPSAT-3A became a unique example of space technologies commercialization. It appeared to be the first satellite, equipped with two imaging systems where the AEISS was complemented with IIS (Infrared Imaging System). It operates within the MWIR (Mid-Wavelength Infrared) region of 3 – 5 µm at high spatial and thermal resolution. These temperature-sensitive IR sensors (IRS) can assist in monitoring of wildfires, volcanic and seismic activities as well as water currents and natural disasters.

Let’s make a graphic comparison of two satellites
Parameter	KOMPSAT-3	KOMPSAT-3A
Launch date	KOMPSAT-3May 17, 2012	KOMPSAT-3AMarch 25, 2015
Designed lifetime	KOMPSAT-34 years	KOMPSAT-3A4 years
Payload	KOMPSAT-3EO	KOMPSAT-3AEO, IR
Altitude	KOMPSAT-3625 km	KOMPSAT-3A528 km
Inclination	KOMPSAT-398.13º	KOMPSAT-3A97.513º
Mean LTAN (Local Time on Ascending Node)	KOMPSAT-313:30 hours	KOMPSAT-3A13:30 hours
Orbital period	KOMPSAT-398.5 minutes	KOMPSAT-3A95.2 minutes
No of revolutions	KOMPSAT-314.6 revolutions/day	KOMPSAT-3A15.1 revolutions/day
Orbit velocity	KOMPSAT-37.51 km/second	KOMPSAT-3A7.60 km/second
Ground speed	KOMPSAT-36.78 km/second	KOMPSAT-3A7.02 km/second
Repeated ground track	KOMPSAT-328 days /423 revolutions	KOMPSAT-3A28 days /409 revolutions
Revisit time	KOMPSAT-31.4 days	KOMPSAT-3A1.4 days
Coverage per cycle	KOMPSAT-3Global coverage in one month	KOMPSAT-3AGlobal coverage in one month
Maximum image dimensions (Across track x along track, km)	KOMPSAT-3Strip mode (mono): 16 x 4000 / Wide Area (mono): 48 x 100 / Single Pass (stereo): 16 x 200	KOMPSAT-3AStrip mode (mono): 16 x 4000 / Wide Area (mono): 48 x 100 / Single Pass (stereo): 16 x 200

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