“It is a great honor for us to receive this award from KARI, it acknowledges the excellent quality of our work and our firm engagement with the success of the program”, said Eduardo Bellido. “The award also recognizes Thales Alenia Space Spain’s ability to lead complex projects in export markets, entailing the management of industrial consortiums as well as integrating and testing large satellite communication panels in our clean rooms in Madrid.”

During the event, the President of KARI, Dr. Gwang-Rae Cho and Eduardo Bellido highlighted the excellent cooperation between the two organizations. Dr. Sang-Ryool Lee, GEO-KOMPSAT-2 Program Manager emphasized the outstanding performance of Thales Alenia Space team in Spain, and underlined that the team work between KARI and Thales Alenia Space has been a key for success of the program.

Thales Alenia Space in Spain has already developed and delivered the communications payloads for the two GEO-KOMPSAT-2 satellites, including the integration and testing of three communication panels, two for GK2A and one for GK2B. GEO-KOMPSAT-2 (Geostationary Earth Orbit Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite) is a key South Korean space program that will provide vital meteorological, oceanographic and environmental data for both government bodies and private end-users. The program comprises two satellites, GK2A and GK2B, each weighing about 3.5 metric tons, to be positioned at 128.2º East longitude in geostationary orbit. The two satellites are scheduled for launch in 2018 and 2019.

A long-standing relationship

GEO-KOMPSAT-2 is the latest program for which KARI has called on Thales Alenia Space to supply communications equipment and payloads. Other programs include the COMS-1 and KOMPSAT-3A satellites, both in orbit, and KOMPSAT-6 and CAS500, under development.

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