Korea's 1st geostationary satellite Cheollian-1 set to retire next year

Cheollian-1 geostationary multifunctional satellite / Courtesy of Korea Aerospace Research Institute

Korea plans to retire Cheollian-1, the country's first geostationary multifunctional satellite, next year after 16 years of operation, the country's space agency said Tuesday.

The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) said the decision was approved at a satellite operation committee meeting, allowing for the satellite to enter its disposal phase in April and reach its final shutdown around July.

Launched in June 2010 and developed and operated by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, the operation of Cheollian-1 far exceeded its seven-year design life. It carried out multiple missions, including experimental communications relay services, and meteorological and ocean monitoring.

It also supported the country's first satellite broadcasting test services, laying the groundwork for advancing and commercializing domestic satellite communications technology.

The decommission process will follow international guidelines on responsible satellite disposal to ensure the long-term sustainability of space activities, according to KASA.