SI Imaging Services Kicks off KOMPSAT-3A Commercial Services

SI Imaging Services (SIIS) has started commercial services of KOMPSAT-3A imagery with the world’s second highest resolution satellite on 5 July. KOMPSAT-3A is part of the Korean Multipurpose Satellite Programme developed and operated by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) for Earth observation purpose.

The Earth observation satellite offers clear imagery with a resolution less than 0.5metre. KOMPSAT-3A, also known as Arirang-3A, was launched into orbit in March last year. After more than a year of successful test operation, SIIS began commercial services on 5 July. It would make South Korea the world's second country to enter the less-than-0.5-metre-resolution satellite imagery market after the United States.

Sharper view

KOMPSAT-3A is the sister of KOMPSAT-3, using the same satellite bus and payload. Its local access time is unique in the afternoon, 13:30, which is the same as KOMPSAT-3. However, since KOMPSAT-3A was put into lower orbit than KOMPSAT-3, it delivers clearer and sharper view. The same imaging time and similar payload as KOMPSAT-3 will amplify its capacity and help to even out the difference of the colour. With KOMPSAT-3A imagery available today with 0.5metre resolution imagery of KOMPSAT-3 at customer’s service, decision makers now have new and more options to consider for their needs.

Small structures

The pictures displayed here are KOMPSAT-3A images. They are examples showing that KOMPSAT-3A can accurately spot the edges of buildings and small structures. The image of New York shows skyscrapers downtown, and even window shapes are spotted. In particular, the second image provides a vivid view of Ferrari World. The advantage of KOMPSAT-3A imagery is quite apparent in the last picture, where details of the small structures are visible.

Constellation

SI Imaging Services (SIIS) is a leading satellite imagery provider for remote sensing and earth observation. SIIS is the exclusive worldwide marketing and sales representative of KOMPSAT constellation including KOMPSAT-2, KOMPSAT-3, KOMPSAT-3A, and KOMPSAT-5. It is a combination of VHR optical and SAR data with variable local access time from the morning to the afternoon (06:00, 10:50, 13:30, 18:00). SIIS provides the satellite imagery worldwide through over 80 sales partners.

Korean Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) is the Korean institute dedicated to aerospace research and is in charge of the Korean space programme. KARI has developed and operated its optical remote sensing satellites such as KOMPSAT-1, KOMPSAT-2, KOMPSAT-3, KOMPSAT-3A, and the first Korean SAR satellite, KOMPSAT-5.