Hanwha Systems Successfully Launches Small SAR Satellite

Communication with Ground Control Center After Space Orbit Insertion
First Domestic Localization Success... Foothold for Overseas Expansion

Hanwha Systems has successfully launched a 'Small Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Satellite' developed and manufactured in-house. SAR is a system that sequentially emits radar waves toward the ground and ocean from the air, then synthesizes the minute time differences of the waves reflected from curved surfaces in order of arrival to create a terrain map. Satellites utilizing this technology can acquire image information during both day and night as well as in adverse weather conditions.

According to the military on the 4th, the satellite was successfully launched at exactly 2 p.m. on the 4th from the sea south of Jeju Island. This satellite was produced by Hanwha Systems after receiving technology from the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), and the launch vehicle applied the government's solid-propellant launch vehicle and orbit insertion technology.

Hanwha Systems explained, "This proves the domestic technological capability in the satellite manufacturing and launch sector, which had been highly dependent on overseas sources. It is significant in that it achieved the first domestic localization in a field where space powers have controlled exports to maintain technological hegemony."

Going forward, Hanwha Systems plans to enter the business-to-government (B2G) and business-to-business (B2B) markets using small SAR satellites. Specifically, the goal is to create various added values through environmental monitoring via high-resolution satellite image analysis, data analysis for Geographic Information System (GIS) map production, and automatic fusion and analysis of satellite image information.

The small SAR satellite developed by Hanwha Systems differs from conventional satellites in that the payload, main body, and solar panels are integrated into a single unit. It is designed to integrate multiple electronic warfare components into one, allowing the maximum number to be loaded onto the launch vehicle, which is expected to significantly reduce launch costs.

Seongcheol Uh, CEO of Hanwha Systems, stated, "It is truly gratifying if space industry technology developed and accumulated with the people's taxes can be utilized for the convenience and safety of the public through the challenges of private companies." He added, "Hanwha Systems will expand its business areas from satellite development, manufacturing, launch, control, to services led by the private sector, and grow as a representative satellite company in Korea's space industry."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.