South Korea will launch its third homegrown military spy satellite this Saturday. The launch will take place at 3:34 a.m. from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
If successful, this launch will place South Korea’s third satellite into orbit. It is part of the country’s plan to deploy five medium- to large-sized satellites by 2025 to enhance surveillance of North Korea. The first satellite launched in December last year. It uses electro-optical and infrared sensors to capture detailed images of the Earth’s surface.
In April, South Korea launched a second satellite from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This satellite carries synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors. These sensors collect data in all weather conditions. The third satellite and the remaining two will also carry SAR sensors.
The Ministry of National Defense expects this launch to strengthen South Korea’s defence against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats. Seok Jong-gun, the head of the Defence Acquisition Program Administration, said using multiple satellites will allow the military to detect provocations more quickly.
At the same time, North Korea is working on its own space reconnaissance. It launched Malligyong-1, its first military spy satellite, in November 2023. North Korea plans to launch three more satellites this year. However, after a rocket exploded in May, it has not launched another satellite successfully.
