Korea’s first augmentation satellite has been launched

The augmentation satellite to provide precise location information services throughout Korea was launched at around 6:03 a.m. on the 23rd (June 22, 18:03, local time) at Guiana Kuru Space Center in South America.

The satellite will provide the service starting next year after conducting signal tests.

The Korea Augmentation Satellite Service (KASS) is the world's seventh officially listed system under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Existing GPS has a 15-33m difference due to ionosphere error (an error that occurs when radio waves are refracted through the ionosphere), and it is a groundbreaking system that dramatically reduces the error range to 1-1.6m through aerial satellites.

Since the satellite floats in the sky of Korea, people will be able to use signals 24 hours a day, anywhere in the country, and free of charge. It will provide more precise and reliable location information to future mobility location-based service industries such as navigation, drones, autonomous driving, and UAM.

Meanwhile, prior to the launch of this satellite, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport opened a booth to promote the satellite to the public at Cheongju Airport (2nd floor) and the Air Satellite Navigation Center from June 3.

From the development process of the Korean Augmentation Satellite Service (KASS) system, explanatory panels, satellite models, and promotional videos for operation are displayed at the booth so that the systematic development process of KASS can be comprehensively viewed.

Reported by Smart City Today