– First Signal Received via Svalbard Ground Station at 12:56 PM KST
– Successful Contact with Daejeon Ground Station at 1:12 PM; Solar Array Deployment Confirmed
The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA, Administrator Yoon Youngbin) announced the successful launch of the NeonSat Constellation Verification Satellite on January 30, at approximately 10:21 AM (KST) from the Mahia Launch Site in New Zealand.
The launch, originally scheduled for December 10, had been postponed* twice. Following the completion of corrective measures by the launch provider, Rocket Lab, the satellite was successfully placed into orbit. During the final countdown, the launch window was adjusted by 26 minutes (from 9:55 AM to 10:21 AM) to allow for a data re-check―a procedure conducted within the pre-secured launch window.
* Launch Timeline: (1st) Dec 10, 2025 → (2nd) Dec 16, 2025 → (Final) Jan 30, 2026
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) established initial contact with the satellite at 1:12 PM KST (5:12 PM local time), approximately 2 hours and 51 minutes post-launch. Telemetry confirmed that the solar panels deployed successfully and are generating stable power, indicating that the satellite is in overall good health.
The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) will test the performance of the verification satellite and verify the quality of its observation images over the next six months. The satellite is scheduled to begin its full-scale Earth observation mission in July 2026.
The NeonSat constellation development project is an Earth observation initiative developed by KAIST (Satellite Technology Research Center) with KASA's support. It aims to provide high-frequency, precision monitoring of the Korean Peninsula and surrounding waters, enabling rapid response to national security issues and natural disasters. KAIST spearheaded the project, co-developing the satellite system with Satrec Initiative, while KARI developed the ground system and the calibration/utilization infrastructure. This verification satellite serves to validate the image quality before the deployment of subsequent mass-produced units.
The NeonSat Verification Satellite is expected to provide 1m-resolution panchromatic and 4m-resolution color optical images for over three years. It will operate as a constellation alongside ten additional units (five in 2026 and five in 2027) to be launched via Korea’s indigenous launch vehicle, Nuri (KSLV-II).
"The on-orbit verification results from this successful launch will significantly enhance the technical maturity and constellation formation of the subsequent mass-produced satellites," said Jin-hee Kim, Director General of the Satellite Directorate at KASA. "The government remains committed to the seamless development and launch of the remaining units to bolster national space capabilities and continuously sharpen our competitiveness in the space industry."