STSat-2A
Failed South Korean satellite
title: "STSat-2A" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["satellites-of-south-korea", "earth-observation-satellites", "satellite-launch-failures", "spacecraft-launched-in-2009"] description: "Failed South Korean satellite" topic_path: "geography/south-korea" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STSat-2A" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Failed South Korean satellite ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox spaceflight"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | STSat-2A |
| names_list | Science and Technology Satellite-2A |
| image | P STSAT-2 12.jpg |
| image_size | 300px |
| mission_type | Technology, Science |
| operator | KAIST Satellite Technology Research Center (SaTReC) |
| mission_duration | 2 years (planned) |
| Failed to orbit | |
| spacecraft_type | STSat |
| spacecraft_bus | STSat-1 |
| manufacturer | KAIST Satellite Technology Research Center (SaTReC) |
| launch_mass | 100 kg |
| dimensions | 62 cm x 70 cm x 90 cm |
| power | 160 watts |
| launch_date | 25 August 2009, 08:00:33 UTC |
| launch_rocket | Naro-1 # 1 |
| launch_site | Naro Space Center |
| launch_contractor | Khrunichev / KARI |
| last_contact | Failed to orbit |
| orbit_reference | Geocentric orbit (planned) |
| orbit_regime | Low Earth orbit |
| orbit_periapsis | 300 km |
| orbit_apoapsis | 1500 km |
| orbit_inclination | 80.0° |
| orbit_period | 103.0 minutes |
| apsis | gee |
| instruments | Dual-channel Radiometers for Earth and Atmosphere Monitoring (DREAM) |
| Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) | |
| Dual Head Star Tracker (DHST) | |
| Pulsed Plasma Thruster (PPT) | |
| Fine Digital Sun Sensor (FDSS) | |
| programme | KITSAT program |
| previous_mission | STSat-1 |
| next_mission | STSat-2B |
| :: |
| name = STSat-2A | names_list = Science and Technology Satellite-2A | image = P STSAT-2 12.jpg | image_caption = | image_size = 300px
| mission_type = Technology, Science | operator = KAIST Satellite Technology Research Center (SaTReC) | COSPAR_ID = | SATCAT = | website = | mission_duration = 2 years (planned) Failed to orbit
| spacecraft_type = STSat | spacecraft_bus = STSat-1 | manufacturer = KAIST Satellite Technology Research Center (SaTReC) | launch_mass = 100 kg | dimensions = 62 cm x 70 cm x 90 cm | power = 160 watts
| launch_date = 25 August 2009, 08:00:33 UTC | launch_rocket = Naro-1 # 1 | launch_site = Naro Space Center | launch_contractor = Khrunichev / KARI
| last_contact = Failed to orbit | decay_date =
| orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit (planned) | orbit_regime = Low Earth orbit | orbit_periapsis = 300 km | orbit_apoapsis = 1500 km | orbit_inclination = 80.0° | orbit_period = 103.0 minutes | apsis = gee
| instruments = Dual-channel Radiometers for Earth and Atmosphere Monitoring (DREAM) Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) Dual Head Star Tracker (DHST) Pulsed Plasma Thruster (PPT) Fine Digital Sun Sensor (FDSS)
| programme = KITSAT program | previous_mission = STSat-1 | next_mission = STSat-2B
STSat-2A (Science and Technology Satellite-2A) was a satellite launched by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), the national space agency of South Korea, from the Naro Space Center in Goheung County, South Jeolla using the Naro-1 (KSLV-1) launch vehicle.
Spacecraft
The KAIST Satellite Technology Research Center (SaTReC) developed STSat-2A as a Sun observation, satellite laser ranging and engineering and technology demonstration sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology. It was expected to be operational for about two years, and was scheduled to be launched between 2005 and 2007. The Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) instrument was intended to measure the orbit of STSAT-2A, in order to investigate variations in its orbit.
It was a follow-up to STSat-1, which was launched using a Kosmos-3M rocket on 27 September 2003. Originally a Dual-channel Radiometers for Earth and Atmosphere Monitoring (DREAM) microwave radiometer was intended as the principal payload of STSat-2A for an expected launch in 2007. The Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA) was described as an early expected payload for STSat-2A which would consist of nine retroreflectors in a mechanical casing.
Mission
STSat-2A has three missions: the indigenous research and development to place a satellite into low Earth orbit, development of indigenous spacecraft, and the ability to develop scientific payloads.
Launch
STSat-2A was launched on the maiden flight of the Naro-1 launch vehicle, which lifted off the Naro Space Center, on the southern coast of South Korea at 08:00:33 UTC on 25 August 2009. The launch failed to place STSat-2A into orbit after half of the payload fairing failed to separate. This resulted in the second stage being too heavy to reach orbit, and it fell back to Earth along with the satellite. A second satellite, STSat-2B, was launched on 10 June 2010, but the launch vehicle failed again.
References
References
- "STSat-2". NASA.
- (June 12, 2009). "South Korea Completes Space Center For Rocket Launch". AFP Nasdaq.
- (June 2, 2009). "Government Approves Launch of South Korea's First Space Rocket". Telecoms Korea.
- "Korea's First Satellite for Satellite Laser Ranging". NASA.
- Kim, Sung-Hyun. (July 25–29, 2005). "Proceedings. 2005 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, 2005. IGARSS '05". Department of Mechatronics, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology.
- (February 4, 2009). "STSat (Science and Technology Satellite)". Global Security.
- "South Korean satellite lost shortly after launch". [[Yonhap News Agency]].
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