South Korea launches solid fuel rocket – 12/04/2023 – Science

South Korea successfully launched this Monday (4) a solid-fuel rocket carrying a satellite over the sea near Jeju Island, the South Korean Ministry of Defense reported, amid an increasing race space with neighboring North Korea.

It was the third successful test of the rocket technology, after two others in March and December 2022.

Monday’s launch involved technology developed by the state-run Defense Development Agency and a thruster and satellite produced by Hanwha Systems, the ministry said in a statement.

Hanwha Systems said the satellite, which will be used for civilian purposes including environmental monitoring, successfully sent signals to the ground control center.

The ministry hailed the launch as an important milestone, coming shortly after North Korea launched its first military spy satellite, which the United States and its allies condemned for using missile technology that violates a United Nations resolution.

South Korea’s successful launch will allow the country to accelerate its surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, the ministry said.

Last Friday (1st), a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched South Korea’s first spy satellite into orbit, from the Vandenberg Space Force Base, in California.

North Korea on Monday denounced what it called Washington’s “double standards” regarding satellite launches by the two Koreas and said such standards would never be tolerated.

“North Korea will continue to pursue the important mission of establishing aerospace surveillance capabilities to fully monitor and control the military movements of the United States and other hostile forces,” the North’s space agency said in a statement carried by state news outlet KCNA.

Last month, North Korea launched its own military reconnaissance satellite, with leader Kim Jong-un receiving photos of the White House, the Pentagon and US aircraft carriers at a naval base in Norfolk, Virginia. according to state media.