Using the U.S. SpaceX launch vehicle
Identification of objects up to 30 cm above hundreds of kilometers
First communication scheduled 1 hour after launch
The first military reconnaissance satellite, which is the ‘eye’ of the North Korea kill chain (preemptive strike), will be launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, USA, early in the morning on the 30th (Korean time). A government delegation led by Defense Acquisition Program Administration Director Eom Dong-hwan plans to monitor the final success of the launch, including first contact with the launch site.
Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik announced at a press conference on the 3rd that our military’s first reconnaissance satellite will be launched on the 30th. Minister Shin emphasized that this will show that our military’s reconnaissance satellite technology and level are more advanced than North Korea’s, which is preparing for a relaunch after two failed launches.
The first military reconnaissance satellite will be launched to an altitude of around 500 km on a Falcon 9 rocket from SpaceX, a space exploration company founded by Elon Musk. Vandenberg Base, the launch site, is also the test launch site for the Minuteman 3 (intercontinental ballistic missile, ICBM), one of America’s ‘three major nuclear forces’ along with strategic nuclear submarines and strategic bombers. Recently, for the first time in 7 years and 9 months, our military officials observed the test launch of Minuteman 3 at this base. Military reconnaissance satellite No. 1 is scheduled to make its first contact with a satellite base station in a Nordic country about an hour after launch. Once this communication is made, the launch will be finally successful.
Reconnaissance Satellite Unit 1 is an electro-optical (EO) and infrared (IR) satellite with a resolution of 30 cm. This means that it is possible to identify a 30cm-sized object on the ground at an altitude of hundreds of kilometers. It is capable of capturing high-performance video that is 100 times higher than that of North Korea’s reconnaissance satellite, which is estimated to have a maximum resolution of 3m.
In addition to Unit 1, the military plans to sequentially launch four high-performance imaging radar (SAR) reconnaissance satellites by SpaceX rockets by 2025. Even in bad weather, SAR satellites can create images using signal data that is reflected and returned after sending electromagnetic waves to ground targets. Equipped with a system of five reconnaissance satellites, it will be possible to inspect major targets such as North Korea’s nuclear missile bases every two hours.
Additionally, the military plans to launch a number of ultra-small military satellites weighing around 100 kg by the late 2020s to fill the surveillance gap of reconnaissance satellites.
Military reporter Sang-ho Yoon [email protected]
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.