The government has decided to utilize the Science Technology Satellite 3 or STSAT-3 for research purposes as it has completed its mission of geological observations.
 
The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology made the decision in a meeting of the space technology development committee last Wednesday.
 
South Korea spent 27-point-nine billion won for the development of the satellite, which was the country’s first science satellite with infrared radar. The satellite, with an operational lifespan of two years, was launched in November 2013 and orbited the earth at an altitude of 600 kilometers for the next two years.
 
The ministry decided not to extend the satellite’s operation considering the degraded condition of its camera. The satellite will be used for research to develop next-generation satellites until it stops operating.