An imaginary picture of the Cheollian Satellite 2B performing a mission to monitor fine dust from space. (Photos: KARI)

The Cheollian 2B, a geostationary orbital satellite developed by Korea's own technology was successfully launched at Guiana Space Center in Guiana of South America on Feb. 18 (local time).

The Ariane 5ECA projectile carrying the Cheollian 2B successfully lifted off on time. 1st Vice Minister Jeong Byung-seon of the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) said at the launch site that the successful lift-off of the Cheollian 2B following the one of the Cheollian 2A takes on significances as Korea has secured world-class development capabilities on both low orbit and geostationary orbit.

1st Vice Minister Jeong Byung-seon of the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT).

Environment Minister Cho Myung-rae visited the Environmental Satellite Center of the National Institute of Environmental Research in Seo-gu, Incheon on Feb. 13. At the center, Cho was briefed on the progress in the world’s first Geostationary Orbital Environmental Satellite (Cheollian Satellite 2B) Project scheduled to launch the satellite in the morning of Feb. 19 and check the preparations.

During the space orbit test period (February 2020 to the end of 2020) after its launch, the Environmental Satellite Center performs the final check on newly developed environmental satellite data processing technology. Then, they will begin the initial testing process in preparation for various situations that may occur in the process of receiving and processing data in the future.

The environmental satellite will monitor air pollutants and materials causing climate change on the Korean Peninsula and in East Asia. It will go down in history as the world's first geostationary orbital satellite, which will be launched two or three years earlier than those of the United States and Europe.

In particular, the satellite is expected to contribute to more closely observing the effects of fine dust coming from overseas countries such as China, and find out the cause of fine dust.

It will cover more than 20 Asian countries. The Ministry of Environment will install remote observation equipment on the ground in major countries such as Vietnam, and push forward an Asian environmental satellite utilization system beginning this year in connection with the environmental satellite.

In addition, Korea will actively provide advanced technology with data to countries with severe air pollution problems and a lack of measuring equipment, such as Thailand.

Environment Minister Cho Myung-rae.

“We will strengthen environmental cooperation with Asian countries by taking advantage of this geostationary orbital environmental satellite,” Cho said. “We need to lay the scientific foundation for Asian environmental cooperation including the formation of an international council. The council will run an Asian environmental satellite utilization system.”

The Ministry of Environment is promoting innovation in the green industry as one of its core tasks this year. In particular, it plans to foster the clean air, smart water, climate and energy, and ecological service industries.

This year, it plans to supply 12.5 trillion won to the innovative green technology sector mainly through policy financial institutions.

The policy financial institutions include the Korea Technology Finance Corporation, the Korea Technology Credit Guarantee Fund, the Korea Development Bank (KDB) and the Industrial Bank of Korea.