Hanwha Systems to launch small SAR satellite by year-end

South Korea's Hanwha Systems Co. announced on Wednesday that it plans to launch its own small synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite by the end of the year.

The launch is a significant development for South Korea's burgeoning space industry and comes as the government ramps up support for the private sector's involvement in satellite development.

The small SAR satellite developed by Hanwha Systems is a high-resolution Earth observation satellite. Unlike conventional satellites, the payload, body, and solar panels are integrated into a single unit. 

This design allows the satellite to be packed into a launch vehicle more efficiently, reducing launch costs significantly.

SAR is a radar system that creates a map of the ground by emitting radar waves from the air and then synthesizing the slight time differences between the waves reflected off the curved surface. It is characterized by the ability to acquire image information day or night and in bad weather.

After successfully launching the satellite, Hanwha Systems will control it through its own ground control center. 

The company plans to accumulate experience in satellite development and utilization by acquiring and analyzing real-time ground images obtained through the satellite.

Write to Mi-Sun Kang at misunny@hankyung.com