Malligyong-1 Explained

Malligyong-1
Mission Type:Reconnaissance
Operator:NATA
Cospar Id:2023-179A
Satcat:58400
Dry Mass:300 kg[1]
Launch Date: UTC
Launch Rocket:Chollima-1
Launch Site:Sohae
Orbit Reference:Sun-synchronous orbit
Orbit Regime:Low Earth
Orbit Periapsis:497km (309miles)
Orbit Apoapsis:508km (316miles)
Orbit Inclination:97.4 degrees
Orbit Period:94 minutes, 40 seconds
Apsis:gee

Malligyong-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 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.

History

First attempt

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. Evacuation alerts were issued in Seoul and Okinawa Prefecture.[11] The North Korean government quickly announced the launch failure.[12]

The remains crashed into the Yellow Sea[2] and South Korea attempted to salvage the remainder of the rocket, searching a site 200km (100miles) 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.

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.[13]

Second attempt

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.[14]

Third attempt

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.[15] 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.

Status

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]

Fourth attempt

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.[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jeongmin Kim . North Korea rushed satellite launch after seeing ROK rocket success, Seoul says . 1 June 2023 . 2 June 2023 . . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609083743/http://www.nknews.org/2023/06/north-korea-rushed-satellite-launch-after-seeing-rok-rocket-success-seoul-says/ . live .
  2. Web site: Mahadzir . Dzirhan . 31 May 2023 . North Korean Satellite Launch Fails, Debris Crashes in Yellow Sea . 31 May 2023 . USNI News . en-US . 1 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231101204055/https://news.usni.org/2023/05/31/north-korean-satellite-launch-fails-debris-crashes-in-yellow-sea . live.
  3. Web site: Tingley . Brett . 31 May 2023 . North Korea says its rocket launch failed, 1st spy satellite lost . 31 May 2023 . . en . 31 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230531211903/https://www.space.com/north-korea-first-satellite-launch-failed . live.
  4. Web site: Malligyong 1 . Gunter's Space Page . 7 December 2023.
  5. News: North Korea officially begins spy satellite program after launch of Malligyong-1 . Schrader . Adam . United Press International . 3 December 2023 . 7 December 2023.
  6. Web site: 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? . 31 May 2023 . . Tokyo . en-US . 31 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230531214626/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-korea-spy-satellite-malligyong-1-chollima-1/ . live.
  7. News: Modest Beginnings: North Korea Launches Its First Reconnaissance Satellite . Vann H. Van Diepen . The Henry L. Stimson Center . . 28 November 2023 . 7 December 2023.
  8. Web site: Sam . Seun. North Korea's Spy Satellite's Impact on ASEAN Countries. Khmer Times . 1 January 2024 . 14 January 2024.
  9. News: North Korean spy satellite photographs Rome, White House. ANSA. 28 November 2023. 14 January 2024.
  10. News: N. Korea says spy satellite took photos of U.S. bases in San Diego, Japan. Yonhap News Agency. 30 November 2023. 14 January 2024.
  11. Web site: 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 . 31 May 2023 . gagadget.com . en . 31 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230531214141/https://gagadget.com/en/weapons/253008-dprk-launches-malligyong-1-military-satellite-to-monitor-the-us-and-prepare-for-nuclear-strikes-but-chollima-1-ro/ . live .
  12. Web site: Kim . Hyung-Jim . Kim . Tong-Hyung . 30 May 2023 . North Korea spy satellite launch fails as rocket falls into the sea . 31 May 2023 . . Seoul . en . 1 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230601013302/https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-launch-military-spy-satellite-db6ce3f08e1ec8e23674aef519d04403 . live .
  13. Web site: Kim . Chang-Ran . Shin . Hyonhee . 31 May 2023 . North Korea satellite plunges in sea in 'rushed' failure, more launches expected . 1 June 2023 . Reuters . en . 1 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230601094141/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-fires-space-satellite-skorea-military-2023-05-30/ . live .
  14. Web site: 24 August 2023 . KCNA Report on Accident in Second Launch of Military Reconnaissance Satellite . https://web.archive.org/web/20230830145700/http://kcna.kp/en/article/q/ced17c79666e3aad1195adac0a9945f0.kcmsf . 30 August 2023 . 24 August 2023 . kana.kp.
  15. Web site: [2보] 북한 "정찰위성 성공적 발사…궤도에 정확히 진입" ]. [2nd step] North Korea “Successfully launched a reconnaissance satellite… entered the orbit accurately” . 21 November 2023 . 21 November 2023 . . korean.
  16. Web site: 21 November 2023 . North Korea claims it has put a spy satellite into orbit in 3rd attempt . 21 November 2023 . npr . 26 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231126070547/https://www.npr.org/2023/11/21/1214469462/north-korea-spy-satellite-orbit . live .
  17. Web site: Van Diepen . Vann H. . 2023-11-28 . Modest Beginnings: North Korea Launches Its First Reconnaissance Satellite - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea . 2024-01-10 . . en.
  18. Web site: N. Korea feared to launch 2nd spy satellite ahead of general elections . 27 February 2024 .
  19. Web site: SatTrackCam Leiden (B)log: A perigee-raising manoeuvre by the North Korean satellite Malligyong-1 . 27 February 2024 .
  20. Web site: en. Ju-min Park. Josh Smith. North Korea says it tried new fuel in satellite launch that ended in fiery explosion. 28 May 2024. Reuters.

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