Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4
Mission type | NADA |
---|---|
COSPAR ID | 2016-009A |
SATCAT no. | 41332 |
Mission duration | 4 years |
Spacecraft properties | |
Dry mass | 150–200 kilograms[1] |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 7 February 2016, 00:30 UTC |
Rocket | Unha |
Launch site | Sohae Space Center |
End of mission | |
Decay date | 30 June 2023[2] |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Sun-synchronous orbit |
Regime | Low Earth |
Perigee altitude | 465 kilometres (289 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 502 kilometres (312 mi) |
Inclination | 97.5 degrees |
Period | 94 minutes, 24 seconds |
Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4 | |
Chosŏn'gŭl | 광명성 – 4호 |
---|---|
Hancha | 光明星4號 |
Revised Romanization | Gwangmyeongseong-4 ho |
McCune–Reischauer | Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4 |
Kwangmyongsong-4 (Korean for 'Bright Star-4' / 'Lodestar-4') or KMS-4[3] is a reconnaissance satellite launched by North Korea on 7 February 2016.
The launch happened after North Korea
Pre-launch
On 2 February 2016, North Korea sent a notification to the
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.[5]
Launch
The satellite was launched on 7 February 2016 at 00:30 UTC into roughly a
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.[10] However, it was later reported the tumbling had been brought under control and the orbit stabilized.[11] This indicates that the satellite has established communication with North Korea.
The head of the
On February 22, Russian news agency
Post-launch
North Korea registered the satellite with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs on May 9.[19]
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.[20] The satellite passed over North Korea four times a day and transmitted data on each pass. However, international experts, such as astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, have not confirmed any transmissions from the satellite.[20]
The satellite decayed from orbit on 30 June 2023.[2]
Reactions
The North Korean government organized a fireworks display on February 7, 2016, in commemoration of the launch.[21]
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.[7][22] However, some experts at the time believed North Korea was 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 showed slow, but continuous, progress.[23] The director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency stated the launch was not a test of an intercontinental ballistic missile.[11]
The launch was strongly condemned by the UN Security Council.[24][25][26] It prompted South Korea and the United States to announce that they would explore the possibility of deploying Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD),[27][28] an advanced missile defence system, in South Korea, which is strongly opposed by China[29] and Russia.[30]
See also
References
- ^ "Status of North Korean Satellite unknown after prolonged Radio Silence, Reports of Tumbling". Spaceflight101.
- ^ a b "KMS-4". N2YO.com. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
- ^ "Technical details for satellite KMS-4". N2YO.com – Real Time Satellite Tracking and Predictions. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
- ^ "Launch notification reveals rocket drop zones - North Korea Tech". North Korea Tech. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
- ^ "All systems go? DPRK brings forward launch window - North Korea Tech". North Korea Tech. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "DPRK announces successful launch of Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite - CCTV News - CCTV.com English". english.cntv.cn. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
- ^ North Korea's 'successful' satellite in orbit - ARS Technica, 2/10/2016, 12:41 AM
- ^ North Korean satellite "tumbling in orbit," U.S. officials say - CBSnews.com, 8 February 2016
- ^ 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.
- ^ David Brunnstrom (11 February 2016). "North Korea satellite not transmitting, but rocket payload a concern - U.S." Reuters. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- ^ "ТАСС" (in Russian). Retrieved 2018-10-09.
- ^ a b "North Korea's new satellite caught on camera". North Korea Tech. 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
- ^ "North Korean Satellite stabilizes in Orbit, Reports of Satellite Operation remain unconfirmed – Spaceflight101". spaceflight101.com. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
- ^ "Kwangmyongsong 4 Orbital Decay". www.zarya.info. Archived from the original on 2022-06-25. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
- ^ "North Korea claims satellite is transmitting images | NK News - North Korea News". NK News. 2016-04-07. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
- ^ "N.Korean satellite sending songs, other signals to earth: media | NK News - North Korea News". NK News. 2016-03-10. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
- ^ Byrne, Leo (27 May 2016). "North Korea Registers Satellite with UN". NK News. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- ^ a b "AP Exclusive: North Korea hopes to plant flag on the moon". Associated Press. 4 August 2016. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
- ^ Ellis, Ralph; Kwon, K.J.; Ap, Tiffany; Hume, Tim (8 February 2016). "North Korea celebrates satellite launch with fireworks display". CNN.
- ^ Ellis, Ralph; Kwon, K.J.; Ap, Tiffany (6 February 2016). "U.S., other nations condemn North Korean rocket launch - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ^ Jack Kim; David Brunnstrom (9 February 2016). "North Korea turns to 'old workhorse' rocket to repeat past success". Reuters. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
- ^ "UN Security Council vows new sanctions after N Korea's rocket launch". BBC News. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
- ^ "U.N. Security Council condemns North Korea launch - CNN.com". CNN. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
- ^ "China worried over US-South Korea plans to deploy THAAD missile system - The Economic Times". The Economic Times. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
- ^ "Korea says THAAD 'helpful' to security". The Korea Times. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
- ^ "North Korean rocket puts object into space, angers neighbours, U.S." Reuters UK. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
- ^ Diplomat, John Power, The. "Russia: Korean THAAD Deployment Is a Security Threat". The Diplomat. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
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