A launch services contract was signed in Taejon, Korea on March 21, 2001 between Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) to launch a KOMPSAT-2 satellite on a Long March 2C/CTS launch vehicle. The contract stipulates that the launch is scheduled to occur in April 2004, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. This is the first time that CGWIC is to provide launch services for KARI.
KOMPSAT 2 is an earth observation satellite with 1.0 meter resolution for panchromatic imaging and 4.0 meter resolution for multi-spectral imaging. The satellite’s orbit will be sun-synchronous at an altitude of 685 kilometers and an inclination of 98.13 degrees. The KOMPSAT 2 was developed by KARI with support from the Korean Government.
LM-2C/CTS is a three-stage launch vehicle mainly used for quasi-circular low earth orbit launch missions, and is basically identical to the LM-2C/SD series which successfully conducted seven launches for the Motorola Iridium program.
CGWIC is the sole commercial organisation authorised by the Chinese government to provide commercial launch services and space technology cooperation initiatives to international customers. It is widely recognized that CGWIC's launch services have earned it a competitive position on the international market thanks to the maturity and reliability of its technical facilities, as well as the flexibility and credibility of its commercial commitment.