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http://planet4589.org/jsr.html
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Originally Posted by Jonathan McDowell
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North Korean satellite
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The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Choson Minjujuui Inmin Konghwaguk) carried
out its fourth satellite launch attempt at around 0049-0051 UTC on Dec 12. The Unha-3 rocket carried
the second flight model of the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite. Initial reports indicated
that the first and second stages of the rocket fired successfully with second
stage impact near the Phillipines. US tracking then cataloged object 39026 as 2012-072A
in a 494 x 588 km x 97.4 deg sun-synchronous orbit with a 0900 local time descending node;
two further objects were cataloged in similar 497 x 582 and 498 x 570 km orbits.
'Kwangmyongsong' means 'lodestar' or 'star of hope' and is believed to be
a reference to former leader Kim Jong Il. I believe the launch is consistent with
flight on an 88 deg trajectory from Sohae launch site followed by a yawed third stage burn
to put the satellite in a 97 deg orbit.
North Korean satellite attempts:
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Date Rocket Payload Planned orbit Result
1998 Aug 31 Paektusan-1 Kwangmyongsong-1 219 x 6978 km x 41 deg Stage 3 failed, fell in ocean
2009 Apr 5 Unha-2 Kwangmyongsong-2 490 x 1426 km x 41 deg Stage 3 failed, fell in ocean
2012 Apr 12 Unha-3 Kwangmyongsong-3 500 x 500 x 97.4 Stage 1 failed, short range
2012 Dec 12 Unha-3 Kwangmyongsong-3/F2 500 x 500 x 97.4 494 x 588 x 97.4, success
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