South Korea launches new satellite into orbit to monitor North Korea
Photo: Falcon 9 rocket launching Bandwagon-3 mission into orbit from Florida (x.com/SpaceX)
One more South Korean military reconnaissance satellite was successfully placed into orbit. The launch was carried out from a US base in Florida, with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the object, Yonhap News Agency reports.
This is the fourth of five planned spy satellites being launched into space under the South Korean Ministry of Defense's program, scheduled for the period of 2023 - 2025.
The launch took place yesterday from the Space Force Station at Cape Canaveral in the evening US time (at night Kyiv time). The reconnaissance satellite entered orbit 15 minutes after liftoff.
The launch of the 4th South Korean spy satellite from the Space Force Station at Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 22 (photo: SpaceX account on X / Yonhap)
"We plan to confirm whether the satellite operates normally through communication with a ground station," said the South Korean Ministry of Defense.
A screenshot from the SpaceX website shows the 4th South Korean reconnaissance satellite awaiting liftoff at the Space Force Station at Cape Canaveral on April 22 (photo: Yonhap)
Satellite program
This synthetic aperture radar satellite is the fourth military satellite launched as part of official Seoul's plan to deploy five spy satellites by the end of this year. The goal is to improve monitoring of North Korea, as well as reduce South Korea's dependence on US satellite imagery.
South Korea launched its first reconnaissance satellite in December 2023. It was equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors capable of capturing detailed images.
In 2024, South Korea launched two more satellites - equipped with synthetic aperture radar sensors, which collect data regardless of weather conditions.
Seoul plans to launch a fifth satellite, which will be equipped with synthetic aperture radar sensors, later this year.
"Once all five satellites are placed in orbit, the country is expected to be able to monitor North Korea every two hours," writes Yonhap.
Earlier, in November 2023, South Korea suspended its participation in a military agreement with North Korea due to the launch of a spy satellite.
