Arirang-1 or Arirang I is an unmanned artificial satellite created by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and launched by a US rocket on December 21 1999. This was the first satellite built primarily by South Korean engineers, although previous foreign-built satellites had been launched by Korean companies. It carries a surveillance camera able to distinguish objects with a diameter of 6.6 meters. It takes its name from the popular Korean folk song Arirang.

The satellite was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on a Taurus rocket. It had been built in Daedeok Science Town in Daejeon, South Korea. The parts were shipped in three stages from Korea to California by First Express International, a Korean shipping firm.

The Arirang-1 was succeeded by the Arirang-2 in 2006. Additional satellites in the series are planned.

On January 6 2008, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute reported that they had lost contact with the satellite. It is suspected to have had a malfunction that has affected power generation.

Notes

See also

• Korea Aerospace Research Institute

External links

• Profile of Korean space program by the Korea Times