A Thales Alenia Space Spain-led consortium has provided the second of three panels for the observation data communication subsystem (ODCS) on Korea Aerospace Research Institute’s (KARI) under development GEO-KOMPSAT-2 satellites.

Part of South Korean space programme, the GEO-KOMPSAT-2 satellites are designed to provide meteorological, oceanic and environmental data for both government and private end-users.

“Delivery of the second GK2A satellite panel to South Korea is a major programme milestone."

The two 3.5t satellites of the programme, namely GK2A and GK2B, are to be launched by 2018 and 2019.

Ten companies are currently involved in the consortium, which was selected to provide communications payloads for the satellites.

Thales Alenia Space Spain CEO Eduardo Bellido said: “Delivery of the second GK2A satellite panel to South Korea is a major programme milestone.

“We have faced significant challenges on this programme, including the tight delivery schedules and having to manage subcontractors from seven countries on three continents.

“But the experience we have gained as prime on the GK2 communications payload will place us in an excellent position as new opportunities arise, including planned telecommunications programmes in Spain.”

Once launched, GK2A will conduct meteorological and space environment monitoring, while GK2B will monitor oceans and the Earth’s environment.

In addition, European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) has chosen Thales Alenia Space to deliver a sub-assembly in the ground segment for its Eumetsat Polar System – Second Generation (EPS-SG).

EPS-SG includes data acquisition, processing and product generation for the Metop SG-A and Metop SG-B polar-orbit meteorological satellites.