Malligyong-1
{{Short description|North Korean spy satellite}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = Malligyong-1
| image =
| image_caption = Chollima-1 rocket, carrying Malligyong-1, takes off from North Korea.
| mission_type = Reconnaissance
| operator = NATA
| COSPAR_ID = 2023-179A
| SATCAT = 58400
| manufacturer =
| dry_mass = 300 kg{{cite web |author=Jeongmin Kim |url=https://www.nknews.org/2023/06/north-korea-rushed-satellite-launch-after-seeing-rok-rocket-success-seoul-says/ |title=North Korea rushed satellite launch after seeing ROK rocket success, Seoul says |date=1 June 2023 |access-date=2 June 2023 |work=NK News |archive-date=9 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609083743/http://www.nknews.org/2023/06/north-korea-rushed-satellite-launch-after-seeing-rok-rocket-success-seoul-says/ |url-status=live }}
| spacecraft =
| launch_date = {{start-date|21 November 2023, 13:42}} UTC
| launch_rocket = Chollima-1
| launch_site = Sohae
| orbit_reference = Sun-synchronous orbit
| orbit_regime = Low Earth
| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|497|km|mi}}*
| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|508|km|mi}}*
| orbit_inclination = 97.4 degrees
| orbit_period = 94 minutes, 40 seconds
| apsis = gee
}}
Malligyong-1 ({{Korean|《만리경-1》호|萬里鏡 1号|lit=Telescope-1}}) is a type of North Korean reconnaissance satellite.{{Cite web |last=Mahadzir |first=Dzirhan |date=31 May 2023 |title=North Korean Satellite Launch Fails, Debris Crashes in Yellow Sea |url=https://news.usni.org/2023/05/31/north-korean-satellite-launch-fails-debris-crashes-in-yellow-sea |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=USNI News |language=en-US |archive-date=1 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101204055/https://news.usni.org/2023/05/31/north-korean-satellite-launch-fails-debris-crashes-in-yellow-sea |url-status=live}}
The mission's first two launch attempts failed, with the third one succeeding on 21 November 2023. This was also the first successful flight of North Korea's new launch vehicle, the Chollima-1.
Description
Malligyong-1 is North Korea's first spy satellite.{{Cite web |last=Tingley |first=Brett |date=31 May 2023 |title=North Korea says its rocket launch failed, 1st spy satellite lost |url=https://www.space.com/north-korea-first-satellite-launch-failed |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=Space.com |language=en |archive-date=31 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531211903/https://www.space.com/north-korea-first-satellite-launch-failed |url-status=live}} It is in a sun-synchronous orbit at about {{convert|500|km}} altitude,{{cite web |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/malligyong-1.htm |title=Malligyong 1 |website=Gunter's Space Page |access-date=7 December 2023}} and will provide a global optical imaging surveillance capability of several countries.{{cite news |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2023/12/03/north-korea-officially-begins-satellite-program/7291701624855/ |title=North Korea officially begins spy satellite program after launch of Malligyong-1 |last=Schrader |first=Adam |publisher=United Press International |date=3 December 2023 |access-date=7 December 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Palmer |first=Elizabeth |date=31 May 2023 |title=Why does North Korea want a spy satellite so badly, and what went wrong with its attempt to launch one? |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-korea-spy-satellite-malligyong-1-chollima-1/ |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=CBS News |place=Tokyo |language=en-US |archive-date=31 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531214626/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-korea-spy-satellite-malligyong-1-chollima-1/ |url-status=live}} The resolution of the imaging capability is not generally known,{{cite news |url=https://www.38north.org/2023/11/modest-beginnings-north-korea-launches-its-first-reconnaissance-satellite/ |title=Modest Beginnings: North Korea Launches Its First Reconnaissance Satellite |author=Vann H. Van Diepen |publisher=The Henry L. Stimson Center |work=38 North |date=28 November 2023 |access-date=7 December 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Sam |first=Seun|title=North Korea's Spy Satellite's Impact on ASEAN Countries|url=https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501415846/north-koreas-spy-satellites-impact-on-asean-countries/|publisher=Khmer Times |date=1 January 2024 |access-date=14 January 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://www.ansa.it/english/news/2023/11/28/north-korean-spy-satellite-photographs-rome-white-house_f1faed10-aa96-4ab5-944a-98e4272faec6.html|title=North Korean spy satellite photographs Rome, White House|publisher=ANSA|date=28 November 2023|access-date=14 January 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231130001000315|title=N. Korea says spy satellite took photos of U.S. bases in San Diego, Japan|publisher=Yonhap News Agency|date=30 November 2023|access-date=14 January 2024}} but according to Daily NK, the Malligyong-1's imagery resolution is lower than the resolution of Google's satellite imagery.{{cite web|author=Seulkee Jang|url=https://www.dailynk.com/english/n-koreas-latest-spy-satellite-equipped-japanese-camera-again/|title=N. Korea’s latest spy satellite equipped with Japanese camera – again|website=Daily NK|date=15 December 2023|access-date=2025-02-02}}
Daily NK also stated that the satellite used Japanese camera, but it was alleged to be not capable of providing meaningful military surveillance data.
History
= First attempt =
The first launch attempt occurred on 31 May 2023. The second stage of the launch vehicle, Chollima-1, ignited too early into the mission, causing the mission to fail. Evacuation alerts were issued in Seoul and Okinawa Prefecture.{{Cite web |last=Panasovskyi |first=Maksim |date=31 May 2023 |title=DPRK launches Malligyong-1 military satellite to monitor the US and prepare for nuclear strikes, but Chollima-1 rocket falls into the sea |url=https://gagadget.com/en/weapons/253008-dprk-launches-malligyong-1-military-satellite-to-monitor-the-us-and-prepare-for-nuclear-strikes-but-chollima-1-ro/ |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=gagadget.com |language=en |archive-date=31 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531214141/https://gagadget.com/en/weapons/253008-dprk-launches-malligyong-1-military-satellite-to-monitor-the-us-and-prepare-for-nuclear-strikes-but-chollima-1-ro/ |url-status=live }} The North Korean government quickly announced the launch failure.{{Cite web |last1=Kim |first1=Hyung-Jim |last2=Kim |first2=Tong-Hyung |date=30 May 2023 |title=North Korea spy satellite launch fails as rocket falls into the sea |url=https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-launch-military-spy-satellite-db6ce3f08e1ec8e23674aef519d04403 |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=AP News |place=Seoul |language=en |archive-date=1 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601013302/https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-launch-military-spy-satellite-db6ce3f08e1ec8e23674aef519d04403 |url-status=live }}
The remains crashed into the Yellow Sea and South Korea attempted to salvage the remainder of the rocket, searching a site {{Convert|200|km|mi}} off the coast of Eocheongdo. The South Korean Ministry of Defence released an image of a white cylinder, suspected to be a part of the rocket.
North Korea's National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) said it would investigate before conducting a second satellite launch. The White House, Japan, and the UN Secretary-General condemned the launch, citing violations of Security Council resolutions prohibiting the use of ballistic missile technology.{{Cite web |last1=Kim |first1=Chang-Ran |last2=Shin |first2=Hyonhee |date=31 May 2023 |title=North Korea satellite plunges in sea in 'rushed' failure, more launches expected |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-fires-space-satellite-skorea-military-2023-05-30/ |access-date=1 June 2023 |website=Reuters |language=en |archive-date=1 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601094141/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-fires-space-satellite-skorea-military-2023-05-30/ |url-status=live }}
= Second attempt =
A second launch attempt of the satellite took place on 23 August 2023, again onboard a Chollima-1 launch vehicle. The launch resulted again in a failure with the loss of the satellite, this time caused by an error in the emergency flight termination system during the third-stage flight.{{cite web |date=24 August 2023 |title=KCNA Report on Accident in Second Launch of Military Reconnaissance Satellite |url=http://kcna.kp/en/article/q/ced17c79666e3aad1195adac0a9945f0.kcmsf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830145700/http://kcna.kp/en/article/q/ced17c79666e3aad1195adac0a9945f0.kcmsf |archive-date=30 August 2023 |access-date=24 August 2023 |website=Korean Central News Agency}}
= Third attempt =
A third launch attempt was initially scheduled to take place in October 2023 but was later moved to November due to some delays in fixing the technical issues that caused the previous failures. The launch took place on 21 November 2023. The South Korean news agency Yonhap quoted its counterpart in the North, the Korean Central News Agency, as saying the satellite had been successfully inserted in the predetermined orbit, resulting in the first successful flight of the Chollima-1 launch vehicle.{{cite web |url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20231122005351504?section=north-korea/ |title=[2보] 북한 "정찰위성 성공적 발사…궤도에 정확히 진입" |trans-title=[2nd step] North Korea “Successfully launched a reconnaissance satellite… entered the orbit accurately” |date=21 November 2023 |access-date=21 November 2023 |work=Yonhap News Agency |language=korean}} However, no immediate independent observations could be made.{{Cite web |date=21 November 2023 |title=North Korea claims it has put a spy satellite into orbit in 3rd attempt |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/11/21/1214469462/north-korea-spy-satellite-orbit |access-date=21 November 2023 |website=npr |archive-date=26 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126070547/https://www.npr.org/2023/11/21/1214469462/north-korea-spy-satellite-orbit |url-status=live }} The probe has been confirmed to be in orbit, however, its status is not known.{{Cite web |last=Van Diepen |first=Vann H. |date=2023-11-28 |title=Modest Beginnings: North Korea Launches Its First Reconnaissance Satellite|url=https://www.38north.org/2023/11/modest-beginnings-north-korea-launches-its-first-reconnaissance-satellite/ |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=38 North |language=en}}
According to NATA, Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch.
== Status ==
On 27 February 2024, South Korean Defense Minister, Shin Won-sik stated that there were no signs of Malligyong-1 being operational, as well as the possibility of a satellite launch by North Korea in March 2024.{{cite web|author=Lee Hyo-jin|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/05/113_369582.html|title=N. Korea feared to launch 2nd spy satellite ahead of general elections|website=The Korea Times|date=27 February 2024|access-date=2025-01-31}}
According to Dutch astronomer Marco Langbroek, between 18 and 24 February 2024, Malligyong-1 had made orbital raising maneuvers to prolong time in orbit and to circularize its orbit, this has demonstrated that satellite has on-board propulsion and is communicating with ground communication stations in North Korea.{{cite web|url=https://sattrackcam.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-perigee-raising-manoeuvre-by-north.html|title=A perigee-raising manoeuvre by the North Korean satellite Malligyong-1|website=SatTrackCam Leiden|date=27 February 2024|access-date=2025-01-31}}{{cite web|author=Marco Langbroek|date=4 March 2024|url=https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4753/1|title=A North Korean satellite starts showing signs of life|website=The Space Review|access-date=2025-01-31}} Commands for orbit raising maneuvers were transmitted from North Korea.{{cite web|author=Marco Langbroek|date=8 April 2024|url=https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4772/1|title=A North Korean satellite starts showing signs of life (part 2)|website=The Space Review|access-date=2025-01-31}} Further orbital raising maneuvers were made from 3-7 June 2024, 6-10 September 2024 and 16-18 January 2025.{{cite web|url=https://sattrackcam.blogspot.com/2024/06/the-north-korean-satellite-malligyong-1.html|title=The North Korean satellite Malligyong-1 raised its orbit again early June|website=SatTrackCam Leiden|date=23 June 2024|access-date=2025-01-31}}{{cite web|url=https://sattrackcam.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-north-korean-satellite-malligyong-1.html|title=The North Korean satellite Malligyong-1 has manoeuvered again|website=SatTrackCam Leiden|date=14 September 2024|access-date=2025-01-31}}{{cite web|url=https://sattrackcam.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-north-korean-satellite-malligyong-1.html|title=The North Korean satellite Malligyong-1 manoeuvered again, and this time it is different|website=SatTrackCam Leiden|date=31 January 2025|access-date=2025-02-04}}
= Fourth attempt =
A fourth launch attempt of a new satellite, called Malligyong-1-1 ({{Korean|《만리경-1-1》호|lit=Telescope-1-1|labels=no}}), took place on 27 May 2024, onboard an unnamed new launch vehicle using liquid-oxygen and petroleum propellants. The launch resulted again in a failure with the loss of the satellite.{{citeweb|lang=en|author1=Ju-min Park|author2=Josh Smith|title=North Korea says it tried new fuel in satellite launch that ended in fiery explosion|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-says-video-shows-north-koreas-failed-satellite-launch-2024-05-28/|date=28 May 2024|website=Reuters}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{North Korean Space Program}}
{{Orbital launches in 2023}}
Category:Spacecraft launched in 2023
Category:Satellite launch failures
Category:Space program of North Korea
Category:Astronomical controversies