COSPAR ID 1992-052B Bus SSTL-70 | SATCAT no. 22077 Launch date 11 August 1992 | |
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Names Uribyol-1
Kitsat-OSCAR-23
KO-23 Mission type Technology Demonstration Operator Korean Institute of Technology (KIT) Similar PoSAT‑1, STSAT‑2A, UoSAT‑2, SUNSAT, STSAT‑2C | ||
KITSAT-1 or KITSAT A is the first satellite to be launched by the Republic of Korea. Once launched, the satellite was given the nickname "Our Star" (우리별).
Launched in 1992, KITSAT-1, which stands for the Korea Institute of Technology Satellite-1, is the first satellite developed by SaTReC. Developed through a collaborative program between SaTReC and the University of Surrey, the main objective of the KITSAT-1 program was to acquire satellite technology through the training and education of satellite engineers.
The success of the KITSAT-1 program marked the beginning of space technology development for South Korea.
Placed into orbit on August 10, 1992, and launched from Guiana Space Centre, its launch weight was 48.6 kg, and it measured 35.2 X 35.6 X 67 cm. The console of the University of Surrey UoSAT-5 satellite was used.
KITSAT-1 was launched on an Ariane 4 rocket along with NASA's TOPEX/Poseidon satellite and France's S80/T satellite .
South Korea became the 22nd country to operate a satellite.