SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches CAS500-2 Korean Earth Observation Satellite from Vandenberg
Summary: On May 3, 2026, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the CAS500-2 (Compact Aerospace Observatory 500-2) Earth observation satellite for South Korea from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission was a routine Falcon 9 launch, with the booster successfully landing at Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg. CAS500-2 is operated by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and serves as a critical component of South Korea's high-resolution Earth observation satellite constellation.
Credit: SpaceX