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KOREASAT 6A to embark a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) payload built

April 6, 2023

KT SAT Corporation Ltd. (KT SAT), Korea, and Thales Alenia Space, are announcing today that KOREASAT 6A will also embark a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) payload to improve the continuity and availability of the Korea Augmentation Satellite System (KASS).

Developed since 2016 by Thales Alenia Space jointly with the Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), KASS is similar to the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS). It improves the positioning and navigation performance provided by global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) for a number of different sectors, especially aviation. It has been developed to meet international standards by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), improving the accuracy and reliability of global positioning system (GPS) signals and better ensure flight safety and efficiency, while also reducing the environmental impact of air travel.

KASS is expected to improve the GPS position error to 1.0-1.6 meter from the current 15-33 meter level in real time to ensure positioning reliability throughout the country. Also KASS has been considered as a future technology as it could be applied to various fields, mainly public safety, transportation, defense and science.