South Korea's CAS500-2 Earth-observation satellite successfully enters orbit via SpaceX Falcon 9

Key facts

• A South Korean Earth-observation satellite, the Compact Advanced Satellite (CAS) 500-2, successfully entered low-Earth orbit after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
• The satellite was carried by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that lifted off at 12 a.m. on Saturday (U.S. time) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California.
• The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) confirmed that the satellite separated from the launch vehicle about one hour after liftoff and successfully entered orbit.
• The CAS500-2 has a mass of 534 kilograms and features a ground resolution of 0.5 metres in black-and-white images and 2 metres in colour.
• The satellite was developed for disaster monitoring and agricultural observation and will begin joint operations with CAS500-1 in the second half of the year after a four-month initial operation period.