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SpaceX Sends S. Korea’s Final Military Spy Satellite into Orbit
(MENAFN) SpaceX on Sunday successfully sent South Korea’s fifth domestically developed military reconnaissance satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, according to Seoul’s Defense Ministry.
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off precisely at 1:09 a.m. local time (0609 GMT), the ministry confirmed.
“On board this mission are 18 payloads for KOREA ADD, Exolaunch, Fergani, Tomorrow Companies Inc., Starcloud, and Vast,” SpaceX said on X, the social media platform owned by billionaire Elon Musk.
The satellite, equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR), is the fifth and final component of South Korea’s plan to field five reconnaissance satellites by year-end. The initiative is designed to improve surveillance of North Korea and reduce reliance on U.S. satellite imagery, South Korean media reported.
"Operating a total of five reconnaissance satellites in a cluster will enable a faster and more accurate detection of signs of North Korea's provocations," the ministry stated in an earlier press release.
With all five satellites in orbit, analysts estimate Seoul will have the capability to monitor North Korea roughly every two hours.
South Korea launched its first military-grade spy satellite in December 2023, equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors for high-resolution imagery. Subsequent launches included three SAR-equipped satellites, allowing for intelligence collection regardless of weather conditions.
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off precisely at 1:09 a.m. local time (0609 GMT), the ministry confirmed.
“On board this mission are 18 payloads for KOREA ADD, Exolaunch, Fergani, Tomorrow Companies Inc., Starcloud, and Vast,” SpaceX said on X, the social media platform owned by billionaire Elon Musk.
The satellite, equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR), is the fifth and final component of South Korea’s plan to field five reconnaissance satellites by year-end. The initiative is designed to improve surveillance of North Korea and reduce reliance on U.S. satellite imagery, South Korean media reported.
"Operating a total of five reconnaissance satellites in a cluster will enable a faster and more accurate detection of signs of North Korea's provocations," the ministry stated in an earlier press release.
With all five satellites in orbit, analysts estimate Seoul will have the capability to monitor North Korea roughly every two hours.
South Korea launched its first military-grade spy satellite in December 2023, equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors for high-resolution imagery. Subsequent launches included three SAR-equipped satellites, allowing for intelligence collection regardless of weather conditions.
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