[DPRK] Military Reconnaissance Satellite 1 V1.0i
© First published 5 March 2023; Updated 30 May 2023
1. Table of Contents
1. Table of Contents
2. Introduction
3. Background
4. First disclosure
5. First announcement
6. Notifications
7. Specs
7.1. Specs of the satellite
7.2. Specs of the launcher
8. Future plan
9. Forecast
9.1. Space weather forecast
9.2. Weather forecast
10. Final announcement
11. Launch
12. Conclusion
2. Introduction
April is the time of the year when traditionally North Korea launches its satellites.
This year, a space launch already announced in December 2022 will see this nation attempt to place a military satellite into orbit.
If 'Military Reconnaissance Satellite 1' ( 군사정찰위성 1호: Kunsajongch'arwisong-1 Ho) is successful, it could be the first functional one.
Indeed, Pyongyang has already placed 2 earth observation satellites of 100 kg and 200 kg into SSO orbit but both are alleged to have failed to return any useful data according to western media.
3. Background
None of the 5 satellites launched by North Korea to date have been confirmed to work properly according to the western media. But this is disputed by the DPRK.
• 31 AUG 1998|12:07 The first attempt to launch from the Tonghae SLC LC-1 a North Korean satellite ended in vain, as the third stage of the Paektusan-1 launch vehicle failed shortly before it reached orbital velocity. Kwangmyongsong 1 (광명성 1) would have beamed songs from space, if it had reached a stable orbit.
• 5 JUL 2006|05:01 The first attempt to launch Unha-1 SLV from the Tonghae LC-2 with possibly the Kwangmyongsong-2 Unit 1 satellite. Failed and only rumored launch.
• 5 APR 2009|11:20 Kwangmyongsong 2 Unit 2 (광명성 2) was the second North Korean attempt from the Tonghae SLC LC-2 for a satellite to reach orbit. It reportedly carried a communication payload was to reach a 490 km × 1426 km × 40.6° orbit, but was lost in the first and second stages separation failure of the Unha-2 launch vehicle.
• 13 APR 2012|7:38:55 Kwangmyongsong 3 was launched on an Unha-3 rocket from the Sohae Satellite Center. Due to first stage guidance system failure, the launch was aborted by self-destruct.
• 12 DEC 2012|09:49:46 A second flight model of the satellite, Kwangmyongsong 3 Unit 2, was successfully launched in December 2012, but no transmission signals have ever been detected coming from the satellite by western foreign observers.
• 7 FEB 2016|09:00 Kwangmyongsong 4 launched on a Kwangmyongsong rocket (Unha-4) from the Sohae Satellite Center. It entered a sun-synchronous orbit of 465 km × 501 km with an inclination of 97.5°. No signals have been detected from the satellites by external observers.
• TBD Kwangmyongsong 5 (광명성 5) is a planned North Korean satellite. Reportedly the satellite is equipped with cameras and telecommunication devices. In late 2017, it was reported, that the Kwangmyongsong 5 satellite had been completed.
4. First disclosure
Three months after the successful launch of the Kwangmyonsong-4 satellite on 7th February 2016, probably the first mediatic depiction of the next satellite to be launched, though without any reference to the 'Military Reconnaissance Satellite 1'.
▲ Model of Kwangmyongsong-1, Kwangmyongsong-2 satellites and an unknown octogonal satellite with 4 deployable solar panels forming an 'x', displayed on the occasion of 10th May 2016 Kim Il Sun Square parade in Pyongyang.
▲ Youtube 9th March 2017 video showing 9 unknown satellites.
5. First announcement
NADA Conducts Important Test for Development of Reconnaissance Satellite
Pyongyang, December 19 (KCNA) -- The National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) of the DPRK conducted an important final-stage test for the development of reconnaissance satellite at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground on December 18.
A spokesperson for the NADA said that the test was mainly aimed to evaluate the capabilities of satellite photography and data transmission system and ground control system.
The test was conducted in the mode of evaluating the processing capability and stability of data transmission devices while verifying the reliability of ground control system including photography control command and attitude control command for various kinds of cameras in the optimum environment simulating space environment after high-angle launch of a test-piece satellite into the altitude of 500km with one panchromatic camera for 20m resolution test, two multispectral cameras, video transmitter and transmitters and receivers of several bands, control devices and batteries, he said.
The test confirmed the important technical indices including the technology of camera operation in space environment, data processing and transmission capability of communication devices and the tracking and controlling accuracy of ground control system. The NADA said this is an important success which has gone through the final gateway process of the launch of reconnaissance satellite.
The NADA announced that it would finish the preparations for the first military reconnaissance satellite by April, 2023.
The results of the important test were immediately reported to the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea. -0-
▲ Sounding rocket used in the suborbital flight test
▲ Images captured from space by the camera in the suborbital flight test
(Juche111.12.19.)
© First published 5 March 2023; Updated 30 May 2023
1. Table of Contents
1. Table of Contents
2. Introduction
3. Background
4. First disclosure
5. First announcement
6. Notifications
7. Specs
7.1. Specs of the satellite
7.2. Specs of the launcher
8. Future plan
9. Forecast
9.1. Space weather forecast
9.2. Weather forecast
10. Final announcement
11. Launch
12. Conclusion
2. Introduction
April is the time of the year when traditionally North Korea launches its satellites.
This year, a space launch already announced in December 2022 will see this nation attempt to place a military satellite into orbit.
If 'Military Reconnaissance Satellite 1' ( 군사정찰위성 1호: Kunsajongch'arwisong-1 Ho) is successful, it could be the first functional one.
Indeed, Pyongyang has already placed 2 earth observation satellites of 100 kg and 200 kg into SSO orbit but both are alleged to have failed to return any useful data according to western media.
3. Background
None of the 5 satellites launched by North Korea to date have been confirmed to work properly according to the western media. But this is disputed by the DPRK.
Launch date (Pyongyang) | Time (Pyongyang) | National designator | Launch site/LC | Launch vehicle | Nodal period | Inclination | Apogee | Perigee | General function of the space object |
31 AUG 1998 | 12:07 | Kwangmyongsong-1 | Tonghae LC-1 | Paektusan-1 | 165m 6s | 40.2° | 6,978.2km | 218.82km | test technology |
5 JUL 2006 | 05:01 | Kwangmyongsong-2-1 | Tonghae LC-2 | Unha-1 | |||||
5 APR 2009 | 11:20 | Kwangmyongsong-2-2 | Tonghae LC-2 | Unha-2 | 104m 12s | 40.6° | 1,426km | 490.6km | test telecommunication |
13 APR 2012 | 7:38:55 | Kwangmyongsong-3-1 | Sohae LC-1 | Unha-3 | 97°.4 | 500 km | 500 km | Earth observation | |
12 DEC 2012 | 09:49:46 | Kwangmyongsong-3-2 | Sohae LC-1 | Unha-3 | 95m 29s | 97.2° | 584.18km | 499.7km | Earth observation |
7 FEB 2016 | 09:00 | Kwangmyongsong-4 | Sohae LC-1 | Kwangmyongsong (Unha-4) | 94m 24s | 97.4° | 500km | 494.6km | Earth observation |
x JUN 2023 | Military Reconnaissance Satellite 1 | Sohae LC-1? | Unha-5? | 95m? | 97°? | 500km? | 500km? | Military reconnaissance |
• 31 AUG 1998|12:07 The first attempt to launch from the Tonghae SLC LC-1 a North Korean satellite ended in vain, as the third stage of the Paektusan-1 launch vehicle failed shortly before it reached orbital velocity. Kwangmyongsong 1 (광명성 1) would have beamed songs from space, if it had reached a stable orbit.
• 5 JUL 2006|05:01 The first attempt to launch Unha-1 SLV from the Tonghae LC-2 with possibly the Kwangmyongsong-2 Unit 1 satellite. Failed and only rumored launch.
• 5 APR 2009|11:20 Kwangmyongsong 2 Unit 2 (광명성 2) was the second North Korean attempt from the Tonghae SLC LC-2 for a satellite to reach orbit. It reportedly carried a communication payload was to reach a 490 km × 1426 km × 40.6° orbit, but was lost in the first and second stages separation failure of the Unha-2 launch vehicle.
• 13 APR 2012|7:38:55 Kwangmyongsong 3 was launched on an Unha-3 rocket from the Sohae Satellite Center. Due to first stage guidance system failure, the launch was aborted by self-destruct.
• 12 DEC 2012|09:49:46 A second flight model of the satellite, Kwangmyongsong 3 Unit 2, was successfully launched in December 2012, but no transmission signals have ever been detected coming from the satellite by western foreign observers.
• 7 FEB 2016|09:00 Kwangmyongsong 4 launched on a Kwangmyongsong rocket (Unha-4) from the Sohae Satellite Center. It entered a sun-synchronous orbit of 465 km × 501 km with an inclination of 97.5°. No signals have been detected from the satellites by external observers.
• TBD Kwangmyongsong 5 (광명성 5) is a planned North Korean satellite. Reportedly the satellite is equipped with cameras and telecommunication devices. In late 2017, it was reported, that the Kwangmyongsong 5 satellite had been completed.
4. First disclosure
Three months after the successful launch of the Kwangmyonsong-4 satellite on 7th February 2016, probably the first mediatic depiction of the next satellite to be launched, though without any reference to the 'Military Reconnaissance Satellite 1'.
▲ Model of Kwangmyongsong-1, Kwangmyongsong-2 satellites and an unknown octogonal satellite with 4 deployable solar panels forming an 'x', displayed on the occasion of 10th May 2016 Kim Il Sun Square parade in Pyongyang.
▲ Youtube 9th March 2017 video showing 9 unknown satellites.
5. First announcement
NADA Conducts Important Test for Development of Reconnaissance Satellite
Pyongyang, December 19 (KCNA) -- The National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) of the DPRK conducted an important final-stage test for the development of reconnaissance satellite at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground on December 18.
A spokesperson for the NADA said that the test was mainly aimed to evaluate the capabilities of satellite photography and data transmission system and ground control system.
The test was conducted in the mode of evaluating the processing capability and stability of data transmission devices while verifying the reliability of ground control system including photography control command and attitude control command for various kinds of cameras in the optimum environment simulating space environment after high-angle launch of a test-piece satellite into the altitude of 500km with one panchromatic camera for 20m resolution test, two multispectral cameras, video transmitter and transmitters and receivers of several bands, control devices and batteries, he said.
The test confirmed the important technical indices including the technology of camera operation in space environment, data processing and transmission capability of communication devices and the tracking and controlling accuracy of ground control system. The NADA said this is an important success which has gone through the final gateway process of the launch of reconnaissance satellite.
The NADA announced that it would finish the preparations for the first military reconnaissance satellite by April, 2023.
The results of the important test were immediately reported to the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea. -0-
▲ Sounding rocket used in the suborbital flight test
▲ Images captured from space by the camera in the suborbital flight test
(Juche111.12.19.)