KOMPSAT-7 (Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite-7) / Arirang 7

Quick facts

Overview

Summary

Mission Capabilities

KOMPSAT-7 carries two primary instruments: an Advanced Electronic Image Scanning System - High Resolution (AEISS-HR) and an Advanced Infrared Module (IRM). AEISS-HR is a high resolution optical imager, improved from AEISS onboard KOMPSAT-3, designed to monitor agricultural/vegetated land and natural disasters.

IRM extends the capabilities of AEISS-HR in the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) region to detect thermal signatures such as wildfires, volcanic activity, or urban heat islands.

KOMPSAT-7 is the successor to the KOMPSAT-3A mission, which has operated since March 2015 and carries the AEISS-A the KOMPSAT-3A Infrared Sensor System (KISS) instruments.

Performance Specifications

KOMPSAT-7 operates in a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 685 km with an inclination of 98.1 degrees and an orbital period of 98.5 minutes.

The AEISS-HR instrument operates in the visible and near infrared (VNIR) spectrum, with a swath width of 12 km and spatial resolution between 1.12 and 1.2 m across four multispectral channels and 0.3 m in its panchromatic channel. IRM uses a mercury-cadmium-telluride detector operating in the 3-5 μm wavelength range.

Space and Hardware Components

KOMPSAT-7 has a mass of 1810 kg, dimensions of 5.2 m × 2.5 m, and operates a three panel solar array to supply it with 2250 W of power.

Along with improved spatial resolution with previous KOMPSAT missions, KOMPSAT-7 integrates a Control Moment Gyroscope (CMG) that enhances the agility of the camera and its computing system has since been updated for more precise attitude control.

KOMPSAT-7 has over 1 TB of onboard storage and X-band communications, downlinking data within 15 minutes of acquisition to ground stations in Daejeon (South Korea), Troll (Antarctica), and Svalbard (Norway).

Overview

The Korea multi-purpose satellite -7 (KOMPSAT-7), also known as Arirang 7, follows a series of satellites launched by the Korean Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) for Earth observation, communications, and meteorological and environmental monitoring.  This mission was developed in collaboration with aerospace and defence manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), along with Arianespace, who managed this mission’s launch. It is equipped with an infrared module manufactured by German company AIM. It aims to service South Korea’s national demand for high-quality optical and infrared satellite imagery for governmental and institutional purposes. It is most similar to KOMPSAT-3, which shares sensor types, and applications, such as the monitoring of thermal anomalies (wildfires, volcanic activity, energy infrastructure, industrial hotspots, and urban heat distribution). 1) 2) 13) 17)

KOMPSAT-7 features an electro-optical multispectral camera, the Advanced Electronic Image Scanning System - High Resolution (AEISS-HR), developed for land and vegetation monitoring, cartography, and disaster monitoring. It is a successor to the KOMPSAT-3A mission, featuring improvements in resolution, processing, and agility. 3)

Spacecraft

KOMPSAT-7 has a payload mass of 1810 kg, dimensions of 5.2 m × 2.5 m, and operates a three panel solar array to supply it with 2250 W. 10) 12)

The KOMPSAT-7 Power Supply Unit (PSU) is supplied by Advanced Space Power Equipment GmbH (ASP-Equipment). It consists of two electronic units within a mechanical enclosure and provides secondary power to the panchromatic and multispectral cameras. It includes 24 high-precision power outputs, a TM/TC interface, and regulated heater outputs. The power supply comprises eight individually designed, manufactured, and tested modules. 11)

KOMPSAT-7 integrates an improved Control Moment Gyroscope (CMG) for enhanced agility and precise attitude control, with an onboard computer three times faster than KOMPSAT-3A’s. 6)

Launch

KOMPSAT-7 was launched on 1 December 2025, from the European Space Agency’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at 17:21 GMT. 2) 5) 6) 7)

The mission reached low Earth orbit (LEO) 44 minutes aboard a Vega-C medium-lift launch vehicle. The four-stage rocket features a P120C solid-fuel rocket motor for the first stage, and the payload was carried in a fairing made from protective carbon fibre-polymer composite with a 3.3 m diameter and 9 m length.

KOMPSAT-7 orbits at an altitude of 685 km, in a sun-synchronous orbit at an inclination of 98.1 degrees and an orbital period of 98.5 minutes.

Mission Status

• March 19, 2026: The Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) released the first set of images taken by KOMPSAT -7, along with details of its calibration process held between 20 February and 30 June 2026. 19)

• December 2, 2025: KOMPSAT-7 successfully established first communication with the Troll ground station in Antarctica at 3:30 AM KST, just over one hour after the mission’s launch. The mission subsequently deployed its solar panels for power generation. 7)

KARI continued to communicate with KOMPSAT-7 between ground stations in Svalbard (Norway) and Troll, monitoring the spacecraft’s health and supporting the critical milestone of the X-band antenna deployment. After communication with ten international ground stations, KOMPSAT-7 established contact with KARI’s station in Daejeon, South Korea. The orbital testing and initial operations phase will check the satellite’s initial activation and payload integration.

• December 1, 2025: KOMPSAT-7 launched aboard a Vega-C rocket from French Guiana at 17:21 GMT. It was designated mission VV28 and managed by Arianespace. The mission was delayed by two days from the previous launch date of November 28, 2025. 2)

• November 21, 2025: Launch of KOMPSAT-7 was delayed due to unfinished preparations on the launcher. The earliest targeted launch date was projected to be November 30, 2025, at 2:21 p.m. local time. 16)
• January 16, 2018: Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract to provide the X-band Transmitter for South Korea’s Earth observation mission KOMPSAT-7. 9)

Sensor Complement

Advanced Electronic Image Scanning System - High Resolution (AEISS-HR)

AEISS-HR is a high resolution optical imager that bulbs on the AEISS-A instrument onboard KOMPSAT-3A. AEISS-HR operates in the visible and near infrared (VNIR) region with four multispectral channels and one panchromatic channel employing a pushbroom imaging technique with a 45 degree field of regard in the positive and negative directions. 14)

Advanced Infrared Module (IRM)

KOMPSAT-7 also houses an advanced infrared module (IRM), based on the design of the KOMPSAT-3A Infrared Sensor System (KISS). The instrument includes a mercury–cadmium–telluride detector operating in the 3–5 μm wavelength range, which aims to detect thermal signatures on Earth such as wildfires or volcanic activity. These thermal signatures can be observed regardless of light conditions, allowing for 24 hour monitoring. Like AEISS-HR, the IR sensor also performs push-broom imaging with time-delay integration (TDI) to maximise the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The instrument operates in a dewar housing, providing a cryogenic temperature to maximise the instrument performance across a five year design lifetime. 15) 17) 18)

Ground Segment

KOMPSAT-7 carries over 1 TB of onboard storage, which downlinks data within 15 minutes of acquisition over an X-band communications link provided by Thales Alenia Space. Ground station connections are made between Daejeon (South Korea), Troll (Antarctica), and Svalbard (Norway). 6) 7) 9)

References

1) European Space Agency, “Kompsat-7 launched on Vega-C,” URL: https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Vega/Kompsat-7_launched_on_Vega-C

2) CEOS Database, “KOMPSAT-7,” URL: https://database.eohandbook.com/database/missionsummary.aspx?missionID=850

3) Korea Aerospace Research Institute, “Multi-purpose Practical Satellite (Arirang),” URL: https://www.kari.re.kr/eng/contents/164 

4) Wikipedia, “KOMPSAT,” URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KOMPSAT

5) European Space Agency, “Vega-C,” URL: https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Vega/Vega-C

6) Europe’s Spaceport Central Spatial Guayanais, “VV28 mission in a nutshell,” URL: https://centrespatialguyanais.cnes.fr/en/vv28-en-bref

7) Korean Aerospace Administration, “Arirang 7 Successfully Establishes First Communication with Ground Station,” 2 December 2025, URL: https://www.kasa.go.kr/bbs/BBSMSTR_000000000041/view.do;jsessionid=FeQRkIQtMM58pwEtZ91PZvQA8DUPaI2SfUo6xTRv.homepage20?nttId=B000000002494Sn9mA4

8) Korea Aerospace Research Institute, “Satellite,” URL: https://www.kari.re.kr/eng/contents/159

9) Thales Group, “Thales Alenia Space to provide the X-band Transmitter for South Korea’s Earth observation mission KOMPSAT-7,” 16 January 2018, URL: https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/news-centre/press-releases/thales-alenia-space-provide-x-band-transmitter-south-koreas-earth

10) Acktar Advanced Coatings, “KOMPSAT-7,” URL: https://acktar.com/kompsat-7/

11) ASP-Equipment, “KOMPSAT-7 PSU,” URL: https://www.asp-equipment.de/en/produkt/kompsat-7-psu/

12) Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan, “KOMPSAT-7,” 2025, https://www.restec.or.jp/satellite/kompsat-7.html

13) GeoImage, “KOMPSAT-7 and 7A,” URL: https://geoimage.com.au/satellites/kompsat-7

14) OSCAR, “AEISS-HR,” URL: https://space.oscar.wmo.int/instruments/view/aeiss_hr

15) Supercluster, “KOMPSAT-7,” URL: https://www.supercluster.com/launches/kompsat-7

16) Arianespace, “FlightVV28: Launch Rescheduled,” 21 November 2025, URL: https://newsroom.arianespace.com/flight-vv28-launch-rescheduled

17) AIM. “Contract Award for Procurement of IR FPU for KOMPSAT-7,” September 27 2017, URL: https://www.aim-ir.com/en/home/news/kompsat-7-next-step-into-space.html

18) AIM, “Linear IR-Detection Modules,” URL: https://www.aim-ir.com/fileadmin/files/Data_Sheets_Security/Modules/05_Linear_IR-Modules/288x6-MW/2018_AIM_datenblatt_A4_Linear-IR-Detection_engl.pdf

19) Geoimage, “KOMPSAT-7 first images revealed,” 19 April 2026, URL: https://geoimage.com.au/news/kompsat-7-first-images-revealed