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Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4

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Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4
Mission typeEarth observation
Technology
OperatorNADA
COSPAR ID2016-009A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.41332
Mission duration4 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Dry mass150 to 200 Kilograms[1]
Start of mission
Launch date7 February 2016, 00:30 UTC
RocketKwangmyongsong
Launch siteSohae Space Center
Orbital parameters
Reference systemSun-synchronous orbit
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude465 kilometres (289 mi)
Apogee altitude502 kilometres (312 mi)
Inclination97.5 degrees
Period94 minutes, 24 seconds
Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4
Chosŏn'gŭl
광명성―4호
Hancha
光明星4號
Revised RomanizationGwangmyeongseong-4 ho
McCune–ReischauerKwangmyŏngsŏng-4

Kwangmyongsong-4 (Korean (Korean for 'Bright Star-4 or Lodestar-4')) or KMS-4[2] is an earth observation satellite launched by North Korea on 7 February 2016.

The launch happened after North Korea conducted a nuclear test on 6 January and as the United Nations Security Council was deciding on sanctions to be placed on the country following the nuclear test. The launch was also timed to celebrate the 74th birthday of the late leader Kim Jong-il on February 16.

Pre-launch

On 2 February 2016, North Korea sent a notification to the International Maritime Organization stating that the country was going to launch a Kwangmyongsong earth observation satellite with a launch window of 8–25 February between 22:30 UTC and 03:30 UTC given. The notification also included the drop zones for the first stage, the payload fairing and the second stage of the rocket, which was similar to the areas designated for the launch of Kwangmyongsong-3 Unit 2.[3]

On 6 February 2016, North Korea sent another notification to the International Maritime Organization stating that the launch window had been changed to 7–14 February.[4]

Launch

Order on launching the satellite, signed by Kim Jong-un

The satellite was launched on 7 February 2016 at 00:30 UTC into roughly a sun-synchronous orbit well suited for an earth observation satellite,[5] using an Unha launch vehicle[6] at Sohae Space Centre in Cholsan County, North Phyongan Province.[7] Regarded as sending a message to both neighboring China as well as the United States, the launch also took place on the eve of the Chinese New Year and the Super Bowl in United States.[8]

It was initially claimed by U.S. officials that the satellite was "tumbling in orbit" and that no signals had yet been detected being transmitted from it.[9] However, it was later reported the tumbling had been brought under control and the orbit stabilized.[10] This indicates that the satellite has established communication with North Korea.

The head of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command stated that Kwangmyongsong-4 was almost twice as large as Kwangmyongsong-3, and South Korean officials estimated the mass as 200 kilograms (440 lb).[11]

Russian official confirmed purpose of the satellite based on its orbit and added that satellite is active as in equipment on it is working/turned on.[12]

Satellite hunter from Netherlands has spotted the satellite and reflection of the sun from solar panels wasn't pulsating thus indicating that satellite is stable as in not rotating.[13] British hobbyst site Zarya.info concluded that satellite is no longer spinning and is under control as demonstrated by altitude conducted between March 8 and 10.[14]

North Korea registered the satellite with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs on May 9.[15]

In addition to claiming North Korea was planning a moon mission, Hyon Kwang-il, director of the scientific research department at NADA, said the satellite had completed 2,513 orbits and had transmitted 700 photographic images in the day following its launch. The satellite passes over North Korea four times a day and continues to transmit data. However, international experts, such as astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, have not confirmed any transmissions from the satellite.[16]

In May of 2017 North Korea has released satellite images of THAAD site in Seongju country, South Korea.[17]

North Korean rockets flown over the Japanese archipelago
No. Date Model Area flown over Advance notice North Korean claim Satellite name
1 August 31, 1998 Taepodong-1 Akita No Satellite launch Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1
2 April 5, 2009 Unha-2 Akita, Iwate Yes Satellite launch Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2
3 December 12, 2012 Unha-3 Okinawa Yes Satellite launch Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3
4 February 7, 2016 Kwangmyŏngsŏng (Unha-3) Okinawa Yes Satellite launch Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4
5 August 29, 2017 Hwasong-12 Hokkaido No Missile launch K.A.
6 September 15, 2017 Hwasong-12 Hokkaido No Missile launch K.A.
7 October 4, 2022 Hwasong-12 (presumed) Aomori No

Reactions

Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper extra informing Japanese readers about the launch

The North Korean government organized a fireworks display on February 7, 2016 in commemoration of the launch.[18]

South Korea, Japan, the United States and other countries have accused North Korea of testing a ballistic missile (Unha is the satellite launch version of Taepodong-2) capable of hitting the United States.[6][19] However, some experts believe North Korea is still a decade away from having the capability to successfully deliver a nuclear weapon by means of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), and the launch shows slow, but continuous, progress.[20] The director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency stated the launch was not a test of an intercontinental ballistic missile.[10]

The launch was strongly condemned by the UN Security Council.[21][22][23] It prompted South Korea and the United States to announce that they would explore the possibility of deploying Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD),[24][25] an advanced missile defence system, in South Korea, which is strongly opposed by China[26] and Russia.[27]

The executive director of the Task Force on National and Homeland Security, Dr. Peter Vincent Pry, who also sits on a Congressional committee regarding the issue, warns that North Korea could already be planning a satellite borne EMP attack which could kill millions in North America.[28] "The EMP Commission has officially been warning about those satellites especially now that the (intelligence) community admits that North Korea can miniaturize warheads," Pry stated. "Our argument all along has been that they could make weapons small enough to put on those satellites that pass over the United States on the optimum trajectory for an EMP attack on North America."

See also

References

  1. ^ "Status of North Korean Satellite unknown after prolonged Radio Silence, Reports of Tumbling". Spaceflight101.
  2. ^ http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=41332
  3. ^ "Launch notification reveals rocket drop zones - North Korea Tech". northkoreatech.org. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  4. ^ "All systems go? DPRK brings forward launch window - North Korea Tech". northkoreatech.org. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  5. ^ John Schilling (9 February 2016). "North Korea's Space Launch: An Initial Assessment". 38 North. U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  6. ^ a b Ju-min Park; Jack Kim (7 February 2016). "North Korean rocket puts object into space, angers neighbours, U.S." Reuters. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  7. ^ "DPRK announces successful launch of Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite - CCTV News - CCTV.com English". english.cntv.cn. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  8. ^ North Korea’s 'successful' satellite in orbit - ARS Technica, 2/10/2016, 12:41 AM
  9. ^ North Korean satellite "tumbling in orbit," U.S. officials say - CBSnews.com, 8 February 2016
  10. ^ a b Andrea Shalal; David Brunnstrom (10 February 2016). "North Korea satellite in stable orbit but not seen transmitting: U.S. sources". Reuters. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  11. ^ David Brunnstrom (11 February 2016). "North Korea satellite not transmitting, but rocket payload a concern - U.S." Reuters. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  12. ^ https://www.northkoreatech.org/2016/03/03/north-koreas-satellite-caught-on-camera/
  13. ^ https://www.northkoreatech.org/2016/03/03/north-koreas-satellite-caught-on-camera/
  14. ^ http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/NKorea/Kwangmyongsong4ndot2.php
  15. ^ Byrne, Leo (27 May 2016). "North Korea Registers Satellite with UN". NK News. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  16. ^ "AP Exclusive: North Korea hopes to plant flag on the moon". Associated Press. 4 August 2016. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ http://m.yna.co.kr/mob2/en/contents_en.jsp?cid=AEN20170510009000315&site=0400000000&mobile
  18. ^ Ellis, Ralph; Kwon, K.J.; Ap, Tiffany; Hume, Tim (8 February 2016). "North Korea celebrates satellite launch with fireworks display". CNN. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  19. ^ Ralph Ellis, K.J. Kwon and Tiffany Ap, CNN (6 February 2016). "U.S., other nations condemn North Korean rocket launch - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved 7 February 2016. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ Jack Kim; David Brunnstrom (9 February 2016). "North Korea turns to 'old workhorse' rocket to repeat past success". Reuters. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  21. ^ "UN Security Council vows new sanctions after N Korea's rocket launch". BBC News. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  22. ^ "U.N. Security Council condemns North Korea launch - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  23. ^ Gayle, Justin McCurry Damien; agencies (2016-02-07). "North Korea rocket launch: UN security council condemns latest violation". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  24. ^ "China worried over US-South Korea plans to deploy THAAD missile system - The Economic Times". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  25. ^ "Korea says THAAD 'helpful' to security". koreatimes. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  26. ^ "North Korean rocket puts object into space, angers neighbours, U.S." Reuters UK. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  27. ^ Diplomat, John Power, The. "Russia: Korean THAAD Deployment Is a Security Threat". The Diplomat. Retrieved 2016-02-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ Pryt, Dr. Peter Vincent. "North Korea may be planning satellite EMP attack". The Wasshington Times. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
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