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Malligyong-1

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Malligyong-1
Mission typeReconnaissance
OperatorNATA
COSPAR ID2023-179A
SATCAT no.58400
Spacecraft properties
Dry mass300 kg[1]
Start of mission
Launch date21 November 2023, 13:42 (2023-11-21UTC13:42) UTC
RocketChollima-1
Launch siteSohae
Orbital parameters
Reference systemSun-synchronous orbit
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude497 kilometres (309 mi)*
Apogee altitude508 kilometres (316 mi)*
Inclination97.4 degrees
Period94 minutes, 40 seconds

Malligyong-1 (Korean: 만리경-1; Hanja: 萬里鏡-1, meaning Telescope-1) is a type of North Korean reconnaissance satellite.[2] It is North Korea's first spy satellite.[3] It is in a sun-synchronous orbit at about 500 kilometres (310 mi) altitude,[4] and will provide a global optical imaging surveillance capability of several countries.[5][6] The resolution of the imaging capability is not generally known.[7][8][9][10]

The mission's first two launch attempts failed, with the third one succeeding on 21 November 2023. This was also the first successful flight of North Korea's new launch vehicle, the Chollima-1.[11]

History

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First attempt

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The first launch attempt occurred on 31 May 2023. The second stage of the launch vehicle, Chollima-1, ignited too early into the mission, causing the mission to fail.[6] Evacuation alerts were issued in Seoul and Okinawa Prefecture.[12] The North Korean government quickly announced the launch failure.[13]

The remains crashed into the Yellow Sea[2] and South Korea attempted to salvage the remainder of the rocket, searching a site 200 kilometres (120 mi) off the coast of Eocheongdo. The South Korean Ministry of Defence released an image of a white cylinder, suspected to be a part of the rocket.[13]

North Korea's National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) said it would investigate before conducting a second satellite launch. The White House, Japan, and the UN Secretary-General condemned the launch, citing violations of Security Council resolutions prohibiting the use of ballistic missile technology.[14]

Second attempt

[edit]

A second launch attempt of the satellite took place on 23 August 2023, again onboard a Chollima-1 launch vehicle. The launch resulted again in a failure with the loss of the satellite, this time caused by an error in the emergency flight termination system during the third-stage flight.[15]

Third attempt

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A third launch attempt was initially scheduled to take place in October 2023 but was later moved to November due to some delays in fixing the technical issues that caused the previous failures. The launch took place on 21 November 2023. The South Korean news agency Yonhap quoted its counterpart in the North, the Korean Central News Agency, as saying the satellite had been successfully inserted in the predetermined orbit, resulting in the first successful flight of the Chollima-1 launch vehicle.[11] However, no immediate independent observations could be made.[16] The probe has been confirmed to be in orbit, however, its status is not known.[17]

According to NATA, Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch.[16]

Status

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It was asserted on 27 February, 2024 by South Korean Defense Minister, Shin Won-sik that North Korea may launch another satellite in March while there were no signs of Malligyong-1 being operational.[18]

According to Dutch astronomer Marco Langbroek, Malligyong-1 in 18 February has conducted orbit raising maneuvers until February 24 in order to prolong time in orbit along being more circular, this has demonstrated that satellite has on board propulsion and is communicating with ground communication stations in North Korea.[19][20] Commands to conduct orbit raising maneuvers were transmitted from North Korea.[21] From June 3 to June 7 there were orbit raising maneuvers.[22] From September 6 to September 10 there were orbit raising maneuvers.[23]

Fourth attempt

[edit]

A fourth launch attempt of a new satellite, called Malligyong-1-1, took place on 27 May 2024, onboard a new launch vehicle using liquid-oxygen and petroleum propellants. The launch resulted again in a failure with the loss of the satellite.[24]

References

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  1. ^ Jeongmin Kim (1 June 2023). "North Korea rushed satellite launch after seeing ROK rocket success, Seoul says". NK News. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b Mahadzir, Dzirhan (31 May 2023). "North Korean Satellite Launch Fails, Debris Crashes in Yellow Sea". USNI News. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  3. ^ Tingley, Brett (31 May 2023). "North Korea says its rocket launch failed, 1st spy satellite lost". Space.com. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Malligyong 1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  5. ^ Schrader, Adam (3 December 2023). "North Korea officially begins spy satellite program after launch of Malligyong-1". United Press International. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  6. ^ a b Palmer, Elizabeth (31 May 2023). "Why does North Korea want a spy satellite so badly, and what went wrong with its attempt to launch one?". CBS News. Tokyo. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  7. ^ Vann H. Van Diepen (28 November 2023). "Modest Beginnings: North Korea Launches Its First Reconnaissance Satellite". 38 North. The Henry L. Stimson Center. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  8. ^ Sam, Seun (1 January 2024). "North Korea's Spy Satellite's Impact on ASEAN Countries". Khmer Times. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  9. ^ "North Korean spy satellite photographs Rome, White House". ANSA. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  10. ^ "N. Korea says spy satellite took photos of U.S. bases in San Diego, Japan". Yonhap News Agency. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  11. ^ a b "[2보] 북한 "정찰위성 성공적 발사…궤도에 정확히 진입"" [[2nd step] North Korea “Successfully launched a reconnaissance satellite… entered the orbit accurately”]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  12. ^ Panasovskyi, Maksim (31 May 2023). "DPRK launches Malligyong-1 military satellite to monitor the US and prepare for nuclear strikes, but Chollima-1 rocket falls into the sea". gagadget.com. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  13. ^ a b Kim, Hyung-Jim; Kim, Tong-Hyung (30 May 2023). "North Korea spy satellite launch fails as rocket falls into the sea". AP News. Seoul. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  14. ^ Kim, Chang-Ran; Shin, Hyonhee (31 May 2023). "North Korea satellite plunges in sea in 'rushed' failure, more launches expected". Reuters. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  15. ^ "KCNA Report on Accident in Second Launch of Military Reconnaissance Satellite". kana.kp. 24 August 2023. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  16. ^ a b "North Korea claims it has put a spy satellite into orbit in 3rd attempt". npr. 21 November 2023. Archived from the original on 26 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  17. ^ Van Diepen, Vann H. (28 November 2023). "Modest Beginnings: North Korea Launches Its First Reconnaissance Satellite - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38 North. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  18. ^ "N. Korea feared to launch 2nd spy satellite ahead of general elections". 27 February 2024.
  19. ^ "SatTrackCam Leiden (B)log: A perigee-raising manoeuvre by the North Korean satellite Malligyong-1". 27 February 2024.
  20. ^ https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4753/1
  21. ^ https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4772/1
  22. ^ https://sattrackcam.blogspot.com/2024/06/the-north-korean-satellite-malligyong-1.html
  23. ^ https://sattrackcam.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-north-korean-satellite-malligyong-1.html
  24. ^ Ju-min Park; Josh Smith (28 May 2024). "North Korea says it tried new fuel in satellite launch that ended in fiery explosion". Reuters.
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