# NEXTSat-2

> South Korea's small satellite launched in 2023

**Wikidata**: [Q131702598](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131702598)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEXTSat-2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/nextsat-2

## Summary
NEXTSat-2 is a South Korean microsatellite launched on May 25, 2023, serving as a technology demonstration spacecraft. Weighing 150 kilograms, it was developed by the KAIST Satellite Technology Research Center to test experimental technologies in orbit. The satellite was successfully deployed using the KSLV-II Nuri launch vehicle from the Naro Space Center.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** May 25, 2023, at 09:24.
- **Launch Vehicle:** KSLV-II Nuri (Flight 3).
- **Operator & Manufacturer:** KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) and KAIST Satellite Technology Research Center.
- **Mass:** 150 kilograms.
- **Class:** Technology demonstration spacecraft and microsatellite.
- **COSPAR ID:** 2023-072A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 56743.
- **Launch Site:** Naro Space Center, South Korea.
- **Power Source:** Spacecraft solar array (1 unit).
- **Country of Origin:** South Korea.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of NEXTSat-2?
A: NEXTSat-2 is a technology demonstration spacecraft designed to test and validate experimental technologies in space. It is classified as a microsatellite, typically weighing less than 200 kg.

### Q: Who built and operates NEXTSat-2?
A: The satellite was manufactured by the KAIST Satellite Technology Research Center and is operated by KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) in South Korea.

### Q: How was NEXTSat-2 launched?
A: The satellite was launched aboard the KSLV-II Nuri, South Korea's orbital launch vehicle, on May 25, 2023, from the Naro Space Center.

## Why It Matters
NEXTSat-2 represents a critical step in South Korea's independent space exploration capabilities. As a technology demonstration mission, it allows researchers to validate new systems and components in the harsh environment of space before they are integrated into larger, more expensive operational satellites. Its launch aboard the KSLV-II Nuri—the country's indigenous launch vehicle—highlights South Korea's growing self-sufficiency in both satellite manufacturing and launch logistics. Weighing 150 kg, the spacecraft fits the microsatellite class, demonstrating the capability to deploy compact, potentially cost-effective platforms for specialized scientific and engineering tasks. By successfully reaching orbit, NEXTSat-2 contributes essential data to the KAIST Satellite Technology Research Center, supporting the future development of South Korea's orbital infrastructure.

## Notable For
- Being a technology demonstration platform for experimental payloads.
- Launching aboard the third flight of the KSLV-II Nuri, South Korea's domestic rocket.
- Being a microsatellite with a significant mass of 150 kg, bridging the gap between smaller nanosatellites and larger minisatellites.
- Development by KAIST, a leading institution in South Korean satellite technology.

## Body

### Mission Overview
NEXTSat-2 is a technology demonstration spacecraft classified as a microsatellite. Its primary mission is to demonstrate experimental technologies in an orbital environment. The spacecraft was designed and built by the KAIST Satellite Technology Research Center and is operated by KAIST.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft has a total mass of 150 kilograms. It is equipped with a single spacecraft solar array to generate electrical power. In the catalog of space objects, it is identified by the COSPAR ID 2023-072A and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 56743.

### Launch and Deployment
NEXTSat-2 was launched on May 25, 2023, at 09:24. The launch took place at the Naro Space Center in South Korea. It was deployed into orbit using the KSLV-II Nuri launch vehicle, specifically on its third mission iteration.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/nextsat-2.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report