The launch of the military reconnaissance satellite No. 5 [Provided by SpaceX. Sale and DB prohibited]
“Our military’s reconnaissance satellite No. 5 successfully communicated with the ground station after entering space orbit.”
The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the reconnaissance satellite No. 5 by U.S. space company SpaceX, was successfully launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida, USA, at 2:09 PM KST (1:09 AM local time).
Two minutes and 18 seconds later, the first-stage booster was separated, followed by the separation of the fairing (satellite protective cover) 23 seconds later.
The reconnaissance satellite No. 5, which separated from Falcon 9’s second stage and settled into its target orbit at around 2:23 PM, successfully communicated with the ground station at 3:09 PM.
Going forward, No. 5 will conduct a space orbit test to verify its performance under the supervision of the Defense Science Research Institute and undergo an operational test evaluation led by the military before officially embarking on surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
The satellite launched on this day is the last reconnaissance satellite in our military’s “425 Project” to secure medium-to-large-sized reconnaissance satellites.
The 425 Project, with a budget of about 1.3 trillion KRW, aims to secure military reconnaissance satellites to detect signs of North Korean nuclear and missile provocations and monitor strategic targets in deep areas.
The Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration stated that the successful launch of No. 5 marks a timely securing of key capabilities forming the basis of Korea’s three-axis system and is expected to further enhance the kill chain capability.
No. 5 is equipped with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) like satellites 2 to 4, enabling it to obtain all-weather, ultra-high-resolution images unaffected by day, night, or weather conditions.
Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-baek emphasized the significance of the launch success, stating, “With the successful launch of No. 5, our military now possesses a more precise and clear ‘eye,’ an essential component of the kill chain, completing our independent ability to surveil and reconnoiter the entire Korean Peninsula ’24/7 regardless of weather.'”
#Satellite #KillChain #NorthKorea #Military
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