[Breaking] First Communication After Cheollian 2B Launch 'Official Launch Success'

The Ariane 5 ECA carrying Cheollian 2B was launched at 7:19 a.m. 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 and has also succeeded in its first communication. With the first communication between Cheollian 2B and the ground station, this launch has been officially confirmed as a success.

First Communication Success

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

Cheollian 2B was launched from the Guiana Space Centre located in French Guiana, South America, and 28 minutes after launch, it successfully separated from the Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle. Upon separation from the launch vehicle, Cheollian 2B automatically powered on and initiated its first communication. The target for communication is the SSC ground station in Australia’s Yatharaga. Cheollian 2B succeeded in its first communication just a few minutes after the launch vehicle was launched, as planned.

With the success of the first communication, it was confirmed that Cheollian 2B safely settled into its transfer orbit. The transfer orbit refers to the intermediate point where the satellite moves from low Earth orbit to geostationary orbit.

Choi Jae-dong, head of the Geostationary Satellite Complex at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, said, "The first communication, which occurs 8 minutes after the satellite separates from the launch vehicle, will determine the success of the launch. Next, the solar panels will be deployed, and if all these processes proceed normally, it confirms that the satellite can operate properly for the next 10 years."

Along with the first communication, Cheollian 2B is also carrying out the deployment of its solar panels. This operation takes about 2 hours to complete fully. In the transfer orbit, Cheollian 2B deploys its solar panels to control its attitude and receive power.

Entering Geostationary Orbit in Two Weeks

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

After successful communication and solar panel deployment, the operation to enter the drift orbit begins the next day. Through liquid apogee engine burns, the satellite will reach its target geostationary orbit. This is a critical operation that consumes 70% of the satellite’s fuel and requires precision. This operation is expected to take about two weeks.

Once Cheollian 2B reaches geostationary orbit, it will perform on-orbit testing of the satellite body and activate the satellite’s systems. It will also optimize the performance of the environmental payload and conduct about seven months of on-orbit tests for geometric and image correction. After these processes, environmental services will be provided starting January next year.

Cheollian 2B provides analysis information on fine dust and over 20 types of atmospheric pollutants through an ultra-precise optical hyperspectral instrument capable of measuring trace gases in the atmosphere. In particular, it can measure the domestic impact of foreign-emitted air pollutants and analyze the movement paths and influence of air pollutants during wildfires or chemical accidents. Additionally, it can observe phenomena such as red tides through its ocean payload.

Jung Byung-sun, 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, who attended the launch site, said, "The successful launch of Cheollian 2B is very meaningful, and the researchers worked very hard to achieve this. In the future, real-time atmospheric and ocean observations will be possible through Cheollian 2B."