A Falcon 9 launch vehicle carrying 25 spacecraft, including the first reconnaissance satellite for the South Korean armed forces, launched in the United States, broadcast by SpaceX.
⠀
The rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Center in California.
⠀
“The mission carries 25 satellites, including Korean 425, Space BD’s ISL48, SITAEL’s microHETSat, D-Orbit’s ION SCV Daring Diego, York Space Systems’ Bane and PlanetIQ’s GNOMES-4,” the company said in a statement. social network X.
⠀
In addition to the vehicles listed by SpaceX, according to Space Flight Now, the rocket is launching into orbit the first research satellite for Ireland – EIRSAT-1.
⠀
As Space Flight Now clarifies in connection with the launch, citing the South Korean Defense Development Agency, 425 “will be this country’s first military reconnaissance satellite.” It is equipped with infrared and electro-optical sensors. According to the publication, by 2025, Seoul, with the help of SpaceX, plans to launch four more similar vehicles into orbit.
⠀
The launch of a rocket with a South Korean reconnaissance satellite took place just over a week after Pyongyang announced the successful launch of its own military apparatus. North Korea, in response to the condemnation of Seoul and its allies, stated that it has the sovereign right to space research, and the launch of the satellite is the implementation of its right to self-defense.
⠀
The reusable first stage of the Falcon 9 took part in the launch of the next SpaceX mission; it had previously been involved in 16 launches, including two manned missions. Using SpaceX technology, 8.5 minutes after launch, the first stage returned to Earth and made a vertical landing.
