S. Korea to develop next-generation geostationary satellite to track algae, fine dust with greater precision

South Korea is moving ahead with the development of a next-generation geostationary satellite capable of distinguishing green algae from brown algae in coastal waters and observing atmospheric pollutants such as ultrafine dust and ozone with far greater precision. The Chollian-6 satellite will expand its maritime observation channels from 12 to 16 and significantly enhance its environmental monitoring capabilities. The government also plans to localize key technologies by placing private companies at the helm of the development effort.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced Thursday that it will co-host an industry briefing on the Chollian-6 geostationary environmental and ocean satellite development project with the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) and the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy at KW Convention in Daejeon on Friday.

The Chollian-6 development project cleared a preliminary feasibility review for national research and development projects in August. Before formally launching the project, the government plans to present its development blueprint to domestic industry, academia and research institutions and broaden private-sector participation.

On the maritime observation side, the payload's performance will be upgraded to enable more precise monitoring of changes in the ocean environment. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to expand the ocean payload's observation channels from 12 to 16 and add five new channels that exploit the polarization properties of light.

The upgrades are designed to allow the satellite to distinguish between green and brown algae, strengthen coastal marine environment surveillance and improve the quality of satellite data needed to respond to maritime disasters and emergencies.

Atmospheric monitoring capabilities will also be enhanced. The Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy plans to more than double the spatial resolution and observation wavelength range of the environmental payload so it can track ultrafine particulate matter, near-surface ozone and other air pollutants more densely.

KASA will develop a satellite platform that allows the environmental and ocean payloads to observe simultaneously. A hybrid propulsion system combining chemical and electric propulsion will also be developed using domestic technology.

The government will have industry lead the satellite development to build private-sector capacity in geostationary satellite development and advance the localization of core technologies. The government plans to gather input from industry, academic and research participants at Friday's briefing before preparing follow-up procedures.

Chollian-6 will be tasked with monitoring atmospheric pollution and changes in the ocean environment. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said the project will lay the groundwork for continuous observation of South Korean waters for more than 30 years.

"Chollian-6 is an important project that will carry out environmental and ocean observation missions closely tied to people's daily lives, while at the same time raising domestic geostationary satellite development capabilities to the next level," said Kim Jin-hee, head of the satellite division at KASA. "We will strengthen the competitiveness of the domestic space industry through private-sector-led satellite development and the localization of core technologies."

Seong Ji-won, director of the atmospheric environment research division at the National Institute of Environmental Research under the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy, said Chollian-6 would use its enhanced observation capabilities to monitor not only air pollutants such as ozone but also climate-change-inducing substances in detail and with accuracy. Seong added that the institute would work to provide environmental information services that people can feel in their daily lives during this era of climate crisis and contribute to the establishment of science-based environmental policy.

Jang Myo-in, director general of the National Ocean Survey at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said the development of Chollian-6 "will lay the foundation for continuous, wide-area observation of our seas for more than 30 years." Jang added that the ministry would "support policy efforts to protect maritime sovereignty, ensure public safety and create clean oceans based on high-quality ocean satellite observation data, and further strengthen our capacity to analyze and monitor changes in the marine environment."