[Breaking] Cheollian 2B Successfully Launched... First Communication Is Crucial

The Ariane 5 ECA carrying Cheollian 2B was launched at 7:19 AM on the 19th. (Live broadcast screen from the website of Arianespace, a European space company)

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Junho] The world's first geostationary satellite for atmospheric environment observation, Cheollian 2B, was successfully launched at 7:18 a.m. (Korean time) on the 19th.

The Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle carrying Cheollian 2B ignited its first-stage engine with a loud roar as the countdown ended at this time. Then, 7 seconds later, the solid rocket boosters ignited, and it took off.

The Ariane 5 ECA, crossing the sky with a loud roar, separated the solid rocket boosters 2 minutes and 22 seconds later. Nine minutes after launch, the first-stage engine was dropped, and the second-stage engine reached the transfer orbit.

The transfer orbit generally refers to the intermediate point where the satellite moves from low Earth orbit to geostationary orbit. The point of entering the transfer orbit is 21 minutes after launch. At this time, the launch vehicle and Cheollian 2B part ways. At this point, Cheollian 2B's program automatically turns on, starting communication with the ground control station. Communication is possible with four overseas ground stations of the SSC's network operations center, Isrange. Among them, the first communication is scheduled to take place at the Yasara ground station in Australia.

Choi Jae-dong, head of the Geostationary Satellite Complex at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, said, "Eight minutes after the satellite separates from the launch vehicle, the first communication will determine the success of the launch," adding, "Next, the solar panels will be deployed, and if these processes proceed normally, it will confirm that the satellite can operate properly for the next 10 years."