South Korea’s Second Spy Satellite Successfully Launched into Orbit
SEOUL—South Korea’s defense ministry announced on Monday that the country’s second homegrown spy satellite had successfully entered orbit following its launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The launch, which marks the second spy satellite deployment after the first one was launched from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base in December, was broadcast live on social media platforms X and YouTube.
The Falcon 9 rocket took off at 2317 GMT on Sunday, with the satellite separating from the launch vehicle 45 minutes later and reaching its designated orbit as planned, according to the ministry’s statement.
Approximately two hours and 40 minutes after the launch, the satellite established successful communication with a ground station, confirming its operational status.
This series of satellite launches by South Korea reflects the ongoing competition with North Korea in the realm of military space capabilities.
Following two unsuccessful attempts, North Korea announced in November last year that it had successfully placed the Malligyong-1 reconnaissance satellite into orbit using its Chollima-1 launch vehicle.
North Korea has declared its intention to launch three additional spy satellites in 2024.
South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik indicated that North Korea might launch a second spy satellite as early as mid-April, based on observations of the country’s military activities, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.
The second spy satellite from South Korea is equipped with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, enabling it to capture images regardless of weather conditions by processing data effectively.
By Hyunsu Yim
