Historical public archive

Vega-C | KOMPSAT-7 — Post-launch Report

Mission date: December 1, 2025. Published: July 1, 2026.

Provider: Arianespace · Vehicle: Vega-C

Executive takeaway

KOMPSAT‑7 delivers sub‑meter (≈30 cm) optical imagery, strengthening South Korea’s sovereign Earth‑observation capability and positioning it among the few nations operating ultra‑high‑resolution commercial EO satellites. The mission’s high‑speed X‑band downlink and >1 Tb onboard storage enable rapid delivery of large volumes of data, supporting timely disaster response, precision agriculture, and defence applications worldwide. Its successful launch on Vega‑C showcases European medium‑lift reliability, reinforcing international market confidence in the vehicle.

Compute signal

KOMPSAT‑7 carries the AEISS‑HR optical payload with >1 terabit of onboard storage and a high‑speed X‑band transmitter provided by Thales Alenia Space, allowing real‑time compression, encryption and rapid downlink of ultra‑high‑resolution imagery. The satellite’s onboard computer is over three times faster than that of KOMPSAT‑3A, supporting real‑time processing of large‑volume data on‑orbit.

Outcome

The Vega‑C launch on 1 Dec 2025 successfully placed KOMPSAT‑7 into a sun‑synchronous orbit at ~576 km altitude, and the satellite began commissioning, with the first images released in March 2026. The mission validates Vega‑C’s performance for high‑value EO payloads and expands South Korea’s commercial and strategic imaging market.