Vega C set to launch South Korea's high-tech KOMPSAT-7 satellite today

Technology Dec 01, 2025

Heads up, space fans: the European Vega C rocket is launching South Korea's new KOMPSAT-7 satellite today at 12:21pm EST from French Guiana. You can even catch it live on Space.com.
Built by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, this nearly 4,000-pound satellite will snap ultra-clear images of the Korean Peninsula from orbit.

What makes KOMPSAT-7 special?

KOMPSAT-7 packs advanced optical tech—a first for Korean satellites—that lets it send huge amounts of images back to Earth in real time.
It'll orbit 576km above us in sync with the sun, giving scientists steady lighting for their observations.
This is Vega C's sixth mission; if all goes well, it'll give South Korea a big boost in high-quality space imagery and help meet national observation needs.