KITSAT-1 or KITSAT-A (Korean Institute of Technology Satellite) is the first

satellite A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioi ...

to be launched for the

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...

. Once launched, the satellite was given the nickname "Our Star" ( 우리별). The KITSAT-1 is a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite with a modular structure. Of the 12 satellites launched by South Korea, KITSAT-1 has the highest altitude. While the KITSAT-1 maintains equilibrium by gravity gradient forces, magnetic torque can be used to control attitude if needed. The forecasted lifespan of the KITSAT-1 was only five years, but communication with the satellite was maintained for 12 years. Since the launch of the KITSAT-1, South Korea has launched an additional 36 satellites.

Size

The KITSAT-1 is considered to be a small-sized or microsatellite. The KITSAT-1 is the smallest sized

low Earth orbit A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit around Earth with a period of 128 minutes or less (making at least 11.25 orbits per day) and an eccentricity less than 0.25. Most of the artificial objects in outer space are in LEO, with an altitude never mor ...

satellite that has been launched by South Korea.

On-Board Computer System

The KITSAT-1's On-board computer (OBC) system uses an OBC186 for the main OBC and an OBC80 as the backup On-board computer system.

Instruments

It carried a Digital Store and Forward Communication Experiment (DSFCE), a CCD Earth Imaging System (CEIS), a Digital Signal Processing Experiment (DSPE), a Cosmic Ray Experiment (CRE).

CCD Earth Imaging System

The CCD Earth Imaging System is equipped with two different cameras. These cameras are: a wide-angle camera with 4 km/pixel and a high-resolution camera with 400 m/pixel. The two CCD cameras that are equipped on the KITSAT-1 are located on the bottom of the satellite so that the cameras should always be pointed toward

Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...

Cosmic Ray Experiment

The CRE's main purpose aboard the KITSAT-1 was to monitor and study the space radiation at orbit of the Earth. These space radiation measurements were to be taken in short-term and long-term time frames. The CRE is equipped to measure the high energy protons, the Galactic Cosmic Rays from deep space, and also the Solar Cosmic Rays from solar flares. The CRE payload consists of two subsystems. The two subsystems are the Cosmic Particle Experiment (CPE) and the Total Dose Experiment (TDE). The CPE is used to measure the Linear Energy Transfer (LET) spectrum over short-term time frames and the TDE is used to measure the total accumulated ionizing radiation dose over long-term time frames.

Launch

Launched in 1992, KITSAT-1, which stands for the Korea Institute of Technology Satellite-1, is the first satellite developed by SaTReC. Developed through a collaborative program between SaTReC and the University of Surrey, United Kingdom, the main objective of the KITSAT-1 program was to acquire satellite

technology Technology is the application of knowledge to reach practical goals in a specifiable and Reproducibility, reproducible way. The word ''technology'' may also mean the product of such an endeavor. The use of technology is widely prevalent in me ...

through the training and education of satellite engineers. The orbit of the KITSAT-1 is of 1320 km with 66° of the

orbital inclination Orbital inclination measures the tilt of an object's orbit around a celestial body. It is expressed as the angle between a reference plane and the orbital plane or axis of direction of the orbiting object. For a satellite orbiting the Earth ...

. This orbit lies just within the inner Van Allen radiation belt. The success of the KITSAT-1 program marked the beginning of space technology development for South Korea. Placed into orbit on 10 August 1992, and launched from Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG), its launch weight was 48.6 kg, and it measured 35.2 cm x 35.6 cm x 67 cm. The console of the University of Surrey UoSAT-5 satellite was used. KITSAT-1 was launched on an Ariane 42P H-10

launch vehicle A launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket designed to carry a payload ( spacecraft or satellites) from the Earth's surface to outer space. Most launch vehicles operate from a launch pads, supported by a launch control center and ...

along with

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil List of government space agencies, space program ...

TOPEX/Poseidon TOPEX/Poseidon was a joint satellite altimeter mission between NASA, the U.S. space agency; and CNES, the French space agency, to map ocean surface topography. Launched on August 10, 1992, it was the first major oceanographic research satellite. ...

satellite and France's S80/T satellite. South Korea became the 22nd country to operate a satellite.

References

{{Orbital launches in 1992 Spacecraft launched in 1992 Satellites orbiting Earth Satellites of South Korea First artificial satellites of a country Amateur radio satellites