KOMPSAT-3A

KOMPSAT-3A (Arirang-3A, Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite-3A) is a Korean high-resolution optical and infrared Earth-observation mission developed and operated by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), launched on 26 March 2015 by a Dnepr vehicle. The satellite extends the KOMPSAT-3 line with the addition of an infrared imaging payload, enabling both optical and thermal land observation from a sun-synchronous LEO at 528 km altitude with 13:30 local time ascending node.^[1][2]

The primary payload is the AEISS-A sensor at 0.55 m panchromatic and 2.2 m multispectral resolution. The secondary payload is the Infrared Imaging Payload (IIP) providing 5.5 m thermal imaging. Orbit inclination is reported as 98.1 degrees from CEOS and 98.513 degrees from an operations paper, with public sources recording values in the 98.1-98.5 degree range.^[3][4] An archive depth of approximately 11 years is available. Commercial tasking through third-party distributors has been available; current 2026 SLA terms and active archive endpoints were not verified from operator sources.^[5] Application domains include urban change mapping, disaster damage assessment, land cover change, crop stress monitoring, and urban heat island assessment.^[5]