Vega C Fires Into Space — Korea’s New KOMPSAT-7 Satellite Launched

Europe’s Vega-C rocket successfully launched South Korea’s KOMPSAT-7 Earth-observation satellite in December 2025.

The mission lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana under flight designation VV28.

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KOMPSAT-7 is an advanced South Korean satellite developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).

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It carries a high-resolution optical camera and infrared sensors designed for detailed Earth observation.

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About 44 minutes after liftoff, KOMPSAT-7 was deployed into a sun-synchronous orbit at around 576 km altitude.

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A sun-synchronous orbit lets the satellite capture images in consistent daylight conditions at every pass.

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KOMPSAT-7 will support environmental monitoring, disaster response, mapping, and national planning needs.

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This mission highlights strong space collaboration between Europe and South Korea.

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The satellite is expected to deliver sharp, reliable Earth images useful for science, research, and public data.

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Stay tuned for more updates as KOMPSAT-7 begins its operational Earth-imaging mission in orbit.

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