Korean Earth-observation satellite successfully put into orbit

A South Korean Earth-observation satellite has successfully entered low-Earth orbit following its launch from a U.S. space base in California, authorities said Sunday, in a move expected to help bolster Seoul's satellite development capabilities. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the satellite lifted off at 12 a.m. Saturday (U.S. time) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. The satellite, called Compact Advanced Satellite (CAS) 500-2, was separated from the launch vehicle about one hour after liftoff, and it was successfully put into orbit, according to the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA). The next-generation midsized satellite No. 2 succeeded in making its first communication with a ground station in Norway about 15 minutes following the separation from the rocket. KASA said it identified the satellite as normally working. The satellite was developed for disaster monitoring and agricultural observation. Following a four-month initial operation period, the CAS500-2 will perform its mission together with the CAS500-1 starting in the second half of this

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