South Korea launches spy satellite into orbit

According to the South Korean Ministry of National Defense , the satellite took off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the John F. Kennedy Space Center at 7:17 p.m. on April 7 (local time, or April 8, Vietnam time). The satellite took about 45 minutes to put into orbit after launch.

"We will check whether the satellite is operating normally through communication with ground stations abroad," according to the South Korean Defense Ministry.

This is the second military satellite launched under South Korea's plan to have five spy satellites by 2025 and better monitor North Korea.

South Korea's second indigenous military surveillance satellite, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on April 7, 2024

YONHAP SCREENSHOT

According to Yonhap on April 8, this satellite is equipped with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensor to collect data using microwaves and is capable of collecting data regardless of weather conditions. The remaining three satellites are also expected to be equipped with SAR sensors.

Optical and infrared sensors capable of capturing detailed images of the Earth's surface have been installed on the first satellite launched into orbit from a US Space Force base in California by a SpaceX rocket in December 2023.

When operating together, the five satellites are expected to provide constant coverage and surveillance for about two hours at a time, according to analysts.

In addition to the five satellites, South Korean defense agencies are said to be working to acquire about 50 to 60 small and micro-sized reconnaissance satellites by 2030, which are expected to provide coverage and provide data on the situation on the Korean Peninsula every 30 minutes.

South Korea's latest spy satellite launch comes as North Korea attempts to acquire space reconnaissance capabilities. North Korea said it successfully launched its first military spy satellite, the Malligyong-1, in November last year, and it has also said it will launch three more spy satellites this year.

Last week, the South Korean military said it was monitoring North Korea's preparations for a satellite launch at the Tongchang-ri launch site (northern North Korea), but had not detected any signs of an imminent launch.

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