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South Korea announced on Sunday that its third spy satellite successfully reached orbit after being launched from the American space center yesterday, Saturday.
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South Korea’s Defense Ministry said the Falcon 9 rocket that normally carries the satellite was lifted off at 8:34 pm (Korea time) from the Vandenberg Space Base in California as planned, and the exploration satellite was launched into orbit at 9:24 p.m.
She added that the launch satellite successfully communicated with an external ground station at 11:30 pm, in a move that indicates it is operating normally.
It is the third military satellite launched by South Korea as part of its plan to launch 5 spy satellites by 2025 to better monitor North Korea with an independent military satellite network.
Previously South Korea relied heavily on satellite imagery provided by the United States.
“We will strive to strengthen our independent military surveillance capabilities by successfully conducting additional launches in the future,” the ministry said, noting that the success of the recent launch enables it to more accurately identify North Korea’s provocations and faster.
South Korea launched the first spy satellite equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors to take detailed images of the Earth’s surface in December last year, from the space base in California.
In April, the country launched its second spy satellite equipped with synthetic aperture radar sensors that capture data using microwaves and can collect data regardless of weather conditions from the Joe F. Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida . The other two satellites will also be equipped with synthetic aperture radar sensors.
The country’s defense authorities hoped the launch would strengthen the tripartite program of military deterrence against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
Once the five satellites are completed, the military is expected to be able to monitor a specific target in North Korea every two hours, according to analysts. The satellite network is also expected to enable more flexible and comprehensive coverage compared to one or two satellites.
Source: Yonhap