NarSha Spacecraft - Nanosats Database

Spacecraft name	K3M (NarSha-1)
Type	CubeSat
Units or mass	16U
Status	not launched, expected in 2026
Launcher	Falcon 9, (Transporter-18)
Organization	Nara Space
Institution	Company
Entity type	Commercial
Country	South Korea
Manufacturer	AIVT by Nara Space
Operator	Nara Space
Oneliner	A methane-monitoring satellite, the first step toward a full-scale global constellation.
Description	Equipped with a hyperspectral imager operating in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) range, Narsha will detect methane emissions as small as 100 kg/h with a ground sampling distance of less than 50 meters, enabling the detection of even weak methane signals. With a 12-satellite constellation planned by 2028, the system aims to achieve 90% global coverage within a four-week cycle, significantly enhancing methane emission monitoring and contributing to global climate and environmental initiatives. The project consortium includes: Nara Space Technology (the leader), Seoul National University and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute. Funding has already been secured for the project, and a demonstration satellite is scheduled for launch in the fourth quarter of 2026. The K3M microsatellite will be equipped with an optical instrument for detecting methane plumes in the visible (VIS), near-infrared (NIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) bands. The spectral resolution of the imaging instrument is expected to be as low as less than 1 nanometer, and the minimum spatial resolution (GSD) at an altitude of 500 km is 30 meters. The mass of the satellite will be a minimum of 32 kg, and the size is 16U, which means it will consist of 16 cubes measuring 10 cm x 10 cm x 11.35 cm.
Sources	[1] [2] [3]

Last modified: 2025-12-28