For story suggestions or custom animation requests, contact tips@nextanimation.com.tw. Visit http://archive.nextanimationstudio.com to view News Direct's complete archive of 3D news animations. RESTRICTIONS: Broadcast: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Digital: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN A European satellite manufacturer has announced that it will be developing high performance satellites for South Korea. Thales Alenia Space announced in a press release that it had signed contracts with Korean Aerospace Industries and Hanwha Systems Corp. to build four high-resolution radar satellites for the Agency of Defense Development in South Korea. The company will provide the synthetic aperture radar payloads for the remote sensing satellites, which will allow all-day imaging of the Earth, even through cloud cover. The SAR satellites will be fitted with a specialized 5-meter antenna, which will be folded as 24 "petals" and open once in space. Korean authorities will reportedly be using the constellation of satellites for "surveillance, intelligence and control of specific areas of interest." The collaboration, known as the 425 project, is the latest venture between Thales Alenia Space and South Korea. The company has previously worked on a number of space programs, including KOMPSAT-5 and KASS. RUNDOWN SHOWS: 1. Radar satellites to be developed by Thales Alenia Space 2. SAR payload will allow all-day imaging of Earth 3. Satellite folded as 24 petals opening in space 4. Satellite used in South Korea surveillance, intelligence VOICEOVER (in English): "Thales Alenia Space signed contracts with Korean Aerospace Industries and Hanwha Systems Corp. to build four high-resolution radar satellites for the Agency of Defense Development in South Korea." "The company will provide the synthetic aperture radar payloads for the remote sensing satellites, which will allow all-day imaging of the Earth, even through cloud cover." "The SAR satellites will be fitted with a specialized 5-meter antenna, which will be folded as 24 'petals' and open once in space." "Korean authorities will reportedly be using the constellation of satellites for 'surveillance, intelligence and control of specific areas of interest.'" SOURCES: Thales Alenia Space, Space News https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/space/press-release/thales-alenia-space-will-support-korean-aerospace-industry https://spacenews.com/thales-alenia-space-to-build-four-radar-satellites-for-south-korea/ *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Next Animation Studio’s News Direct service provides daily, high-quality, informative 3D news animations that fill in for missing footage and help viewers understand breaking news stories or in-depth features on science, technology, and health. Sign up for a free trial of News Direct's news animations at http://newsdirect.nextanimationstudio.com/trial/ To subscribe to News Direct or for more info, please visit: http://newsdirect.nextanimationstudio.com