- Arirang-2
Arirang-2, also known as KOMPSAT-2, is a
South Korea n multipurposesatellite . It was launched fromPlesetsk , Russia at 4:05 PM KST onJuly 28 2006 . It began to transmit signals at 11 PM the same day. Like the earlierArirang-1 satellite, it takes its name from the popular Korean folk songArirang . Its launch was the culmination of a project begun in 1999.Arirang-2 orbits at a height of 685 kilometers, circling the Earth 14 times per day, and is expected to maintain that orbit for 3 years. It weighs 765 kilograms. [cite web|url=http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2006/07/28/200607280025.asp|title=Multipurpose satellite Arirang 2 set for launch|work=Korea Herald July 28 2006|accessdate=2006-07-29]
The satellite carries a high-powered digital camera which can distinguish to a 1-meter resolution, allowing the identification of individual vehicles on the ground. [cite web|url=http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200607/kt2006072317294410440.htm|work=Korea Times July 23 2006|title=Arirang-2 to Monitor North Korea|accessdate=2006-07-29] Among other purposes, this will allow the South Korean intelligence service to observe North Korean military activities. Prior to the launch of this satellite, the South Koreans had been largely dependent upon surveillance information provided by the
United States .Notes
ee also
*
Korean Aerospace Research Institute
*List of Korea-related topics External links
* [http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-07-28T090432Z_01_SEO197011_RTRUKOC_0_US-SPACE-KOREA-SATELLITE.xml&archived=False Reuters report]
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