Chollian Satellite 1 Enters Disposal Orbit After Completing 16 Years of Service

Cheollian Satellite 1, South Korea's first geostationary satellite, completed 16 years of service and entered its disposal orbit on the 8th. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute said that it successfully completed the satellite's disposal maneuver and component deactivation that morning. Cheollian 1 was launched in June 2010 and was used for weather observation, ocean monitoring, and satellite communication test services. Its design lifespan was seven years, but thanks to an operational method that conserved fuel, it actually remained active for more than twice that long. At the end, the satellite moved to a graveyard orbit higher than its original one, then emptied its remaining fuel and shut down. Handling it this way can reduce the risk of collision with other satellites and the creation of space debris. The weather and ocean observation missions that Cheollian 1 had carried out are now being taken over by Cheollian 2A and 2B, respectively.