| Agency Name: | National Aerospace Technology Administration |
| Native Name: | Kukgaujugaebalkuk |
| Native Name A: | 국가항공우주기술총국 |
| Chief1 Name: | Yu Chol-u |
| Chief1 Position: | Director |
| Preceding1: | KCST, NADA |
| Jurisdiction: | Government of North Korea |
| Headquarters: | Pyongyang |
National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA;) is the official space agency of North Korea, succeeding the Korean Committee of Space Technology (KCST). It was founded on 1 April 2013.[1] Formerly called the National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA), it changed its name in September 2023 following the 9th Session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly.[2] The current basis for the activities of NATA is the Law on Space Development, passed in 2014 during the 7th session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly. The act sets out the North Korean principles of the development of space capabilities as it relates to the principles of the North Korean Juche ideology and independence, as well as the aim of solving scientific and technological problems of space exploration to improve its economy, science, and technology.
The law also regulates the position of NATA and the principles of notification, security, research, and possibly compensation in relation to satellite launches. The law calls for the cooperation with international organizations and other countries, equality and mutual benefit, and respect for international law and international regulations for space. The law also opposes the militarization of space.
In 1980, KCST, the executive space agency of North Korea, began research and development with the aim of producing and placing communications satellites, Earth observation satellites, and weather observation satellites into orbit.
In 2009, North Korea signed the Outer Space Treaty, and the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space Objects.[3]
In 2016, North Korea accepted the Rescue Agreement, an international agreement setting forth rights and obligations of states concerning the rescue of persons in space, as well as the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects.[4]
NATA's previous emblem consisted of a dark blue globe with the word Kukgaujugaebalkuk (National Space Development Administration) in white Korean letters on the bottom, DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) in light blue letters on the top, the Big Dipper, NADA in white letters in the middle, and two bright blue rings symbolizing satellite orbits and the intention of place on all orbits of satellites. The logo was described as representing the agency's "character, mission, position, and development prospect". Ursa Major was intended to symbolize and glorify North Korea as a space power.[5]
Western media pointed out that the logo bore a striking resemblance to NASA's logo — both have blue globes, white lettering, stars, and swooshed rings.[6] [7]
NATA's new logo includes an additional red stripe, similar to NASA's.
See main article: Paektusan (rocket). North Korea's first orbital space launch vehicle.
See main article: Unha. The Unha is a North Korean family of expendable carrier rockets. The Unha-1, Unha-2, Unha-3, and Unha-4 (Kwangmyŏngsŏng) have a wider first stage, comparable to that of the Simorgh.
Chollima-1 is a three-stage rocket based on the Hwasong-17 ICBM.
| Launch Date (UTC) | Rocket | Launch Site | Status | Purpose | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1[8] | 31 August 1998 | Paektusan | Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground | Technology experimental satellite | |
| 4 July 2006 | Unha-1 | Rocket test (See 2006 North Korean missile test) | |||
| Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 | 5 April 2009 | Unha-2 | Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground | Communications satellite | |
| Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3[9] | 13 April 2012 | Unha-3 | Sohae Satellite Launching Station | Observation satellite | |
| Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2 | 12 December 2012 | Unha-3 | Sohae Satellite Launching Station | Observation satellite | |
| Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4 | 7 February 2016 | Kwangmyŏngsŏng (Unha-4) | Sohae Satellite Launching Station | Observation satellite | |
| Malligyong-1 #1 | 30 May 2023 | Chollima-1 | Sohae Satellite Launching Station | Military reconnaissance satellite | |
| Malligyong-1 #2 | 23 Aug 2023 | Chollima-1 | Sohae Satellite Launching Station | Military reconnaissance satellite | |
| Malligyong-1 #3 | 21 Nov 2023 | Chollima-1 | Sohae Satellite Launching Station | Military reconnaissance satellite | |
| Malligyong-1-1 | 27 May 2024 | "North Korean Kerolox Launch Vehicle" | Sohae Satellite Launching Station | Military reconnaissance satellite | |
The future Unha-20 will be able to place 20 tons into low Earth orbit. It will also be used by the North Korean Deep Space Exploration Program, to explore the Moon, Mars, and other destinations.[10]
South Korean internet newspaper Jaju Minbo carried an article on 23 March 2012 stating that North Korea is likely to launch a lunar exploration satellite.[11]
In an interview with The Associated Press, a senior official said on 4 August 2016 that North Korea will begin designing a lunar orbiter and lunar lander immediately after launching a geostationary communications satellite as planned in the Second Space Development Five-Year Plan.
North Korea stated its ambition to land a probe on the Moon.
As a prerequisite paving the way for a crewed Moon landing, the third phase of the NKLEP would be to return rock samples to Earth with a robotic probe as illustrated by an orbital trajectory schematic seen in 2015 at the Pyongyang Science-Technology Complex. Planned for a launch sometime after 2026, the mission will use a heavy Unha-20 booster able to place it into a lunar trajectory orbit. The landing of the return capsule would be in the Pacific Ocean.[12]
Hyon Kwang Il, director of the scientific research department of North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration, said that North Korea also intends "to do manned spaceflight and scientific experiments in space, make a flight to the moon and moon exploration and also exploration to other planets."
In 2009, North Korea announced more ambitious future space projects, including its own crewed space flights and the development of a partially reusable crewed shuttle launch vehicle mockup, which was displayed at Mangyongdae Children's Palace.[13]
In 2016, Hyon Kwang Il, director of NADA's scientific research department, said they planned to launch more satellites before 2020, including a geostationary satellite. He also said that he hoped they would "plant the flag of the DPRK on the moon" within 10 years.[14]
In 2017, NADA officials unveiled two proposals for upcoming satellites, one of which is an Earth remote-exploration satellite weighing over 100 kg, with spatial resolution capabilities of several meters. The second is a satellite in a proposed geostationary orbit for communication, with an estimated weight of at least one short ton.[15] Various media outlets have reported that North Korea was in the process of completing one of the two satellites, dubbed "Kwangmyongsong-5", however the expected launch date has yet to be determined.[16] [17] [18]