Seoul, December 21 (HS): South Korea will launch its third domestic military spy satellite from the US space center today. South Korea has intensified efforts to enhance its surveillance capabilities over North Korea for some time. The satellite will be launched at 3:34 am (local time) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
The Korea Times report also clarified that if the launch is successful, it will be South Korea’s third military spy satellite in orbit as part of a plan to acquire five medium to large-sized spy satellites by 2025 for better surveillance over North Korea.
South Korea launched its first spy satellite from a California space base in December last year. It is equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors to capture detailed pictures of the Earth’s surface. The country launched its second spy satellite in April from the John F. Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida. It is equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors. It captures data using microwaves in any weather.
South Korean defense officials hope that today’s launch will further boost the army’s three-dimensional surveillance program against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats. The third launch is being monitored by Defense Acquisition Program Administration Minister Seok Jong-gun. North Korea successfully launched its first military spy satellite (Malligyong-1) in November 2023.
Hindusthan Samachar
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