South Korea’s fifth homegrown army spy satellite tv for pc, launched from a U.S. area base in Florida on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, efficiently entered orbit, the protection ministry stated Sunday, in a transfer anticipated to bolster its unbiased surveillance capabilities.
The Falcon 9 lifted off at 1:09 a.m. Sunday (U.S. time) from Cape Canaveral House Drive Station as deliberate and positioned the reconnaissance satellite tv for pc into orbit about 14 minutes after liftoff, in response to the ministry.
The ministry later confirmed that the satellite tv for pc succeeded in speaking with a floor station about an hour after takeoff, in a sign of the satellite tv for pc’s regular operation.
The artificial aperture radar (SAR) satellite tv for pc is the fifth and closing army satellite tv for pc launched below the nation’s plan to deploy 5 spy satellites by the tip of this yr to raised monitor North Korea and assist scale back its reliance on U.S. satellite tv for pc imagery.
“With the most recent launch, (the army) will be capable of construct unbiased capabilities to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance in all climate situations throughout the Korean Peninsula by working the satellites in a cluster,” the ministry stated in a discover.
The primary three satellites have been absolutely deployed whereas the fourth satellite tv for pc is present process operational analysis.
As soon as all 5 satellites are absolutely deployed, the nation is anticipated to have the ability to monitor North Korea each two hours.
“The protection ministry and the Protection Acquisition Program Administration anticipate the profitable launch of the fifth army reconnaissance satellite tv for pc … will additional strengthen the (army’s) Kill Chain capabilities,” the ministry stated in a launch, referring to one of many pillars of the nation’s three-pronged deterrence construction.
Protection Minister Ahn Gyu-back stated the most recent launch has “accomplished” the army’s unbiased capabilities to observe the Korean Peninsula around-the-clock and pledged to additional search to advance its protection area capabilities.
South Korea launched its first spy satellite tv for pc in December 2023, outfitted with electro-optical and infrared sensors able to capturing detailed photos. It has since launched three extra satellites outfitted with SAR sensors that gather knowledge no matter climate situations.
North Korea has additionally been ramping up efforts to accumulate space-based reconnaissance capabilities towards its enemies.
The North efficiently launched its first army spy satellite tv for pc, the Malligyong-1, in November 2023 and had vowed to launch three extra spy satellites in 2024.
But it surely has but to launch one other one since a rocket carrying a satellite tv for pc exploded shortly following takeoff in Might final yr.
