SEOUL - South Korea has achieved a significant milestone in its space and defense strategy by successfully launching its second spy satellite aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This launch is a critical step in South Korea's ambitious plan to deploy a network of five reconnaissance satellites by 2025 aimed at enhancing its monitoring capabilities, particularly concerning North Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 8:17 a.m. Seoul time, successfully placing the reconnaissance satellite into orbit approximately 45 minutes later. The ministry confirmed the launch's success and stated that the initial phase of the satellite's operation would involve establishing communication with an overseas ground station to ensure its functionality.
This satellite, part of South Korea's broader surveillance and defense initiative, is equipped with advanced synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors. These sensors utilize microwaves to gather data, enabling the satellite to collect vital information under any weather conditions. The future satellites in this series are also planned to feature SAR sensors to maintain a comprehensive and resilient monitoring system.
The deployment of these satellites is expected to significantly enhance South Korea's intelligence gathering and surveillance capabilities. When the entire network of five satellites is operational, analysts predict that South Korea will achieve regular monitoring coverage with updates approximately every two hours, providing an unprecedented level of vigilance and strategic advantage.