Korea will launch its third satellite to observe the Earth from aJapanese space center on May 18, officials announced Tuesday. The KOMPSAT-3, also known as Arirang-3, is designed to providegeographical information of the Korean Peninsula with bettertechnology than its two predecessors. Loaded on a Japanese rocket, the multipurpose satellite will liftoff from the southern island of Tanegashima, some 115 kilometerssouth of Kyushu. The launch is due at 1:39 a.m. on May 18 from the Tanegashima SpaceCenter, located on an island some 115 kilometers south of Kyushu. The satellite carries a multispectral camera that can distinguish a0.7-meter object on the Earth, enhanced from the previous Arirang-2launched in 2006. If the KOMPSAT-3 runs successfully, Korea will become the world'sfourth country to own a "sub-meter" level Earth observingsatellite. It will operate at an altitude of 685 kilometers, circling andmonitoring the Earth for the next four years, according to theMinistry of Education, Science and Technology. The satellite's main mission is to provide geographical informationdata on the Korean Peninsula during its four-year lifespan. It will serve along with the existing Arirang-2 to providecontinuous satellite observation, allowing the country to monitorenvironmental changes and agriculture, fishery and forestryresources. It will also help provide warning signs for natural disasters andscan disaster-stricken areas, according the Korea AerospaceResearch Institute. The ministry said if the launch is successful the satellite willstart to operate from September after testing it for three months. Korea currently has the Arirang-2 multi-purpose satellite that isequipped with a one-meter resolution camera, but its role islimited, and the country is still largely dependent on informationprovided by the United States. Korea's space program suffered a setback in 2009 when its firstspace rocket failed to reach orbit. The government is aiming to make 2012 the year to further expandits space technology. The government is planning to launch threemore satellites, each designed to perform a unique function, withinthis year. Korea launched its first Earth-observatory satellite Arirang-1 in1999, and since 2004 Korea has invested heavily, spending more than282 billion won (S$310 million) on its satellite project. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Wide Format Laminator , Matte Laminating Pouches, and more. For more , please visit Frosted Plastic Film today!
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