[China's best pupil: Part9] North Korea's Unha-9 Space Launcher

Galactic Penguin SST · Sep 25, 2017

[China's best pupil: Part9] North Korea's Unha-9 Space Launcher

China's CZ-9 Lunar Rocket
"
The number 9 in East Asia

Since Nine, the highest single-digit number in base ten, stands for completeness and eternity, many emperors in the ancient China love the number a lot. 'Nine Continents' is used to describe the large territory of an empire. The emperors wore Nine-dragon Imperial Robes, ordered to construct Nine-dragon Walls and other buildings with relationship with number 9 in the imperial palaces, to show their great power, hope for longevity, and eternal reign of their empire.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C9gMf9gU0AEVJ3z.jpg
https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/853445883261669378
https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/853445883261669378

▲ Ultimate evolution of the Long March space launch vehicle family, the CZ-9, for Moon landing, with 140 T LEO capability. April 15, 2017 CGI.

https://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/lucky-number9.htm

,,

Overview
"
2012-6-27

After CZ-6, CZ-11, CZ-7, and CZ-5 the next launchers to be tested include the CZ-9 Moon Rocket:

http://www.shenkong.net/uploadfiles/201206/271114088483.jpg
http://www.shenkong.net/News/1206/WCXXCZJHHJJKSYZ27110843.htm

▲ Left: liquid propellant SLV, Right: solid propellant SLV

http://www.shenkong.net/uploadfiles/201206/271113263849.jpg
http://www.shenkong.net/News/1206/WCXXCZJHHJJKSYZ27110843.htm

▲ Left: liquid propellant SLV, Right: solid propellant SLV

http://img.supmil.net/data/attachment/forum/201611/05/124527xrts3sb3imvszmdr.jpg
http://lt.cjdby.net/thread-2314737-1-1.html

▲ CZ-9, CZ-9A, CZ-9B

http://img.supmil.net/data/attachment/forum/201611/05/121247zlw2t6ohakp25eec.jpg
http://lt.cjdby.net/thread-2314737-1-1.html

▲ CZ-9

http://ww4.sinaimg.cn/bmiddle/5f50f3afgw1eb6wsrd9quj207e0m63yw.jpg
http://lt.cjdby.net/thread-2314737-1-1.html

▲ CZ-9 and CZ-3B (used to launch CE3 lunar lander and rover)

http://
http://lt.cjdby.net/thread-2314737-1-1.html

▲ CZ-5, CZ-9

,,

Propulsion
"
2013/05/29

500-ton thrust liquid oxygen/kerosene staged combustion cycle engine is the first liquid propellant rocket engine with dual-thrust chamber system in China. Recent hot gas engine swing tests were successfully conducted.

In order to meet future manned lunar and deep space exploration requirements, 500-ton liquid oxygen kerosene high-pressure staged combustion engines are at the core of the development officially started in 2010.

http://www.spacechina.com/n25/n144/n206/n214/c428036/content.html

,,

"
2015

Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology (AAPT) started the development of gaz generators for the CZ-9's YF-480 rocket engines (480 tons thrust)

http://www.aalpt.com/www/newcontents.asp?leaf_id=3035

,,

"July 06, 2015

China may buy rocket engines for it space program from Russia, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told TASS on Monday.

The deputy prime minister noted that China is interested "in a number of services and products, which will be very important for the development of the Chinese space program, in particular, for its lunar program." China’s lunar program is practically impossible without "certain supplies of equipment from Russia," Rogozin added.

http://tass.ru/en/economy/806267

,,

China's next-generation manned deep-space spacecrafts

"
First picture of the two types of next-generation Chinese manned deep-space spacecrafts

http://img.cjdby.com/data/attachment/forum/201504/01/101113rn7bvgozgg7bnwto.jpg.thumb.jpg
http://

▲ 14-tons and 20-tons manned spacecraft

Mass： 14-tons and 20-tons
Reentry speed：second cosmic velocity
Crew capacities： 2-6
Autonomous flight time： over 21 days
Docked time： over 2 years
Tasks： 14-tons for NEO, asteroids and Mars，20-tons for lunar landing
Configuration： double cabin
Modes of escape：self-powered, escape tower
Recovery：parachutes and airbags，marine and land landing.

,,

"Associated Next Generation manned spacecraft:

5 meters diameter

10 meters long

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CXoi65BU0AQUkQO.jpg
https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/682896690332827648

▲ CGI of Next Generation manned spacecraft

Review of new aluminum alloy materials used in large sealed cabin for manned spaceflight

2015-12-11

English Summary:

This paper reviews the applications of new aluminum alloy materials in the main structure of manned spacecraft. On the basis of relevant experimental studies and comparison analyses, it is shown that the new 5B70 aluminum-magnesium-scandium alloy is the best alternative materials for the main structure of the upgrading manned spacecraft in China because of its excellent comprehensive performance. To meet the development needs of the shuttle manned aircraft today, the problems to be solved and the challenges to come for the traditional aluminum alloy materials for the upgrading manned spacecraft in the future are analyzed.

http://www.bisee.ac.cn/ch/reader/view_abstract.aspx?file_no=20150601&flag=1

,,

Major Milestones

"Southwest Aluminum Group Co Ltd successfully develops the world's largest aluminum ring

2015-4-22

http://www.duanxie.cn//files/422708048.jpg
chinaforge.org.cn
http://www.duanxie.cn/info/2015422/1-29655.shtml

▲ The first pieces of the new CZ-9 lunar rocket with a 9 meters aluminum ring was recently developed.

,,

"
17 Jan 2016

Two groups are now producing 9 meters diameter aluminium rings. Wuxi Paike (无锡派克) produces 8.7 meters diameter rings, Tianjin special steel precise forging co.,LTD (天津特钢) 8.8 meters rings. Two others can produce 10 meters diameter rings.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CYvyFZbUMAEyrxs.jpg
https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/688691205090050048

▲ 9 meters diameter aluminium rings

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CY65AB0UsAAggUN.jpg
https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/688691205090050048

▲ 9 meters diameter aluminium rings

Tianjin special steel precise forging co.,LTD 8.8 meters ring

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CY64_jqVAAE0hZk.jpg
https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/688691205090050048

▲ 9 meters diameter aluminium rings

Video
http://www.tjd-rolling.com/Video/detail/id/1.html

http://www.tjd-rolling.com/Product/detail/id/27.html

https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/688691205090050048

,,

Galactic Penguin SST · Sep 25, 2017

The Inter-Korean Deep Space Race

Code:

╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║                                                                  Past Korean launch vehicles                                                                  ║
╠════════╦════════════════╦═══════════════════╦════════════╦════════╦════════╦══════════╦══════════════════╦═════════════╦═════════════╦═════════════╦══════════╣
║ Agency ║ Launch Vehicle ║ First launch date ║   Thrust   ║ Stages ║ Total  ║ Maximum  ║   Total Length   ║ Payload LEO ║ Payload GEO ║ Payload LTO ║  Status  ║
║        ║                ║    (Pyongyang)    ║            ║        ║  Mass  ║ Diameter ║                  ║             ║             ║             ║          ║
╠════════╬════════════════╬═══════════════════╬════════════╬════════╬════════╬══════════╬══════════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬══════════╣
║  KCST  ║  Paektusan-1   ║    31 AUG 1998    ║   ~32t f   ║   3    ║  ~21t  ║  1.25 m  ║       ~24 m      ║  ~25-40 kg  ║             ║             ║ launched ║
║        ║                ║                   ║            ║        ║        ║          ║                  ║   @250 km   ║             ║             ║          ║
╠════════╬════════════════╬═══════════════════╬════════════╬════════╬════════╬══════════╬══════════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬══════════╣
║  KCST  ║     Unha-3     ║    12 DEC 2012    ║ 4 x ~32t f ║   3    ║  ~91t  ║   2.4 m  ║       ~30 m      ║   ~100 kg   ║             ║             ║ success  ║
║        ║                ║                   ║            ║        ║        ║          ║                  ║ @500km SSO  ║             ║             ║          ║
╠════════╬════════════════╬═══════════════════╬════════════╬════════╬════════╬══════════╬══════════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬══════════╣
║        ║                ║                   ║            ║        ║        ║          ║      33.5 m:     ║    100 kg   ║             ║             ║          ║
║  KARI  ║     KSLV-1     ║    30 JAN 2013    ║ 170-ton f  ║   2    ║  140t  ║   2.9 m  ║ 1st stage: 25.8m ║   @300 km   ║             ║             ║ success  ║
║        ║                ║                   ║            ║        ║        ║          ║ 2nd stage: 7.7m  ║             ║             ║             ║          ║
╠════════╬════════════════╬═══════════════════╬════════════╬════════╬════════╬══════════╬══════════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬══════════╣
║  NADA  ║ Kwangmyongsong ║    7 FEB 2016     ║ 4 x ~37t f ║   3    ║  ~91t  ║   2.4 m  ║       ~30 m      ║   ~250 kg   ║             ║             ║ success  ║
║        ║    (Unha-4)    ║                   ║            ║        ║        ║          ║                  ║ @500 km SSO ║             ║             ║          ║
╠════════╬════════════════╬═══════════════════╬════════════╬════════╬════════╬══════════╬══════════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬══════════╣
║  KPASF ║   Hwasong-12   ║    14 MAY 2017    ║ 1 x ~80t f ║   1    ║  ~XXt  ║   1.X m  ║       ~1X m      ║  suborbital ║             ║             ║  success ║
║        ║     (IRBM)     ║                   ║ 4 x ~5t f? ║        ║        ║          ║                  ║             ║             ║             ║          ║
╠════════╬════════════════╬═══════════════════╬════════════╬════════╬════════╬══════════╬══════════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬══════════╣
║  KARI  ║   KSLV-2-II    ║    ~ Oct 2018     ║  75-ton f  ║   2    ║        ║          ║       26 m       ║             ║             ║             ║   TBD    ║
╚════════╩════════════════╩═══════════════════╩════════════╩════════╩════════╩══════════╩══════════════════╩═════════════╩═════════════╩═════════════╩══════════╝

Code:

╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║                                                              Korean lunar launch vehicles                                                               ║
╠════════╦════════════════╦═══════════════════╦════════════╦════════╦════════╦══════════╦══════════════╦═════════════╦═════════════╦═════════════╦════════╣
║ Agency ║ Launch Vehicle ║ First launch date ║   Thrust   ║ Stages ║ Total  ║ Maximum  ║ Total Length ║ Payload LEO ║ Payload GEO ║ Payload LTO ║ Status ║
║        ║                ║    (Pyongyang)    ║            ║        ║  Mass  ║ Diameter ║              ║             ║             ║             ║        ║
╠════════╬════════════════╬═══════════════════╬════════════╬════════╬════════╬══════════╬══════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬════════╣
║  NADA  ║     Unha-9     ║       ~2018       ║ ~4 x 80t f ║   3    ║ ~200t  ║   ~3 m   ║     ~50 m    ║     ~2t     ║     ~1t     ║   ~500 kg   ║  TBD   ║
║        ║                ║                   ║            ║        ║        ║          ║              ║   @500 km   ║    @GSO     ║    @LTO     ║        ║
╠════════╬════════════════╬═══════════════════╬════════════╬════════╬════════╬══════════╬══════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬════════╣
║  KARI  ║   KSLV-2-III   ║     ~DEC 2019     ║ 4 x 75t f  ║   3    ║  200t  ║   3.5 m  ║    47.2 m    ║   1,500kg   ║             ║   ~350 kg   ║  TBD   ║
║        ║                ║                   ║            ║        ║        ║          ║              ║ @600-800 km ║             ║    @LTO     ║        ║
╚════════╩════════════════╩═══════════════════╩════════════╩════════╩════════╩══════════╩══════════════╩═════════════╩═════════════╩═════════════╩════════╝

Code:

╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║                                                             Korean manned launch vehicles                                                              ║
╠════════╦════════════════╦═══════════════════╦════════════╦════════╦════════╦══════════╦════════╦═════════════╦═════════════╦═════════════╦═════════════╣
║ Agency ║ Launch Vehicle ║ First launch date ║   Thrust   ║ Stages ║ Total  ║ Maximum  ║ Total  ║ Payload LEO ║ Payload GEO ║ Payload LTO ║   Status    ║
║        ║                ║    (Pyongyang)    ║            ║        ║  Mass  ║ Diameter ║ Length ║             ║             ║             ║             ║
╠════════╬════════════════╬═══════════════════╬════════════╬════════╬════════╬══════════╬════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╣
║        ║                ║                   ║   Core:    ║        ║        ║          ║        ║             ║             ║             ║             ║
║  NADA  ║    Unha-18     ║       ~2021       ║ ~4 x 80t f ║   3    ║ ~400t  ║  ~3.5 m  ║  ~50 m ║     ~8t     ║     ~4t     ║             ║  classified ║
║        ║                ║                   ║ Boosters:  ║        ║        ║          ║        ║    @LEO     ║    @GSO     ║             ║  manned LV  ║
║        ║                ║                   ║ 4 x 80t f  ║        ║        ║          ║        ║             ║             ║             ║             ║
╠════════╬════════════════╬═══════════════════╬════════════╬════════╬════════╬══════════╬════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╣
║  KARI  ║     KSLV-3     ║     2023-2030     ║ 9 x 75t f  ║   3    ║  570t  ║   4.4 m  ║  61 m  ║     8t      ║     ~3t     ║    ~1.5t    ║  unmanned   ║
║        ║                ║                   ║            ║        ║        ║          ║        ║    @LEO     ║    @GSO     ║    @LTO     ║     LV      ║
╚════════╩════════════════╩═══════════════════╩════════════╩════════╩════════╩══════════╩════════╩═════════════╩═════════════╩═════════════╩═════════════╝

Code:

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║                                                            Korean deep space launch vehicles                                                             ║
╠════════╦═════════╦═══════════════════╦═════════════════╦════════╦═══════════╦══════════╦═════════╦═════════════╦═════════════╦═════════════╦═════════════╣
║ Agency ║ Launch  ║ First launch date ║     Thrust      ║ Stages ║   Total   ║ Maximum  ║  Total  ║ Payload LEO ║ Payload GEO ║ Payload LTO ║   Status    ║
║        ║ Vehicle ║    (Pyongyang)    ║                 ║        ║   Mass    ║ Diameter ║ Length  ║             ║             ║             ║             ║
╠════════╬═════════╬═══════════════════╬═════════════════╬════════╬═══════════╬══════════╬═════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╣
║  NADA  ║ Unha-20 ║       ~2026       ║   ~2000t f(?)   ║   3    ║ ~1200t(?) ║  ~5 m(?) ║ ~50 m(?)║    ~20t     ║    ~10t     ║     ~5t     ║ classified  ║
║        ║         ║                   ║                 ║        ║           ║          ║         ║    @LEO     ║    @GSO     ║    @LTO     ║     LV      ║
╠════════╬═════════╬═══════════════════╬═════════════════╬════════╬═══════════╬══════════╬═════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╬═════════════╣
║        ║         ║                   ║      Core:      ║        ║           ║          ║         ║             ║             ║             ║             ║
║  KARI  ║ KSLV-4  ║     2028-2040     ║    9 x 75t f    ║   3    ║   1700t   ║   4.4 m  ║   47 m  ║     20t     ║     6t      ║     3t      ║             ║
║        ║         ║                   ║    Boosters:    ║        ║           ║          ║         ║    @LEO     ║    @GSO     ║    @LTO     ║             ║
║        ║         ║                   ║ 2 x (9 x 75t f) ║        ║           ║          ║         ║             ║             ║             ║             ║
╚════════╩═════════╩═══════════════════╩═════════════════╩════════╩═══════════╩══════════╩═════════╩═════════════╩═════════════╩═════════════╩═════════════╝

https://www.kari.re.kr/eng/sub03_03_02.dohttps://www.kari.re.kr/eng/sub03_03_01.do

North Korean Deep Space Exploration Program

North Korean Lunar Exploration Program (조선달탐사: NKLEP)

North Korean lunar orbiter

The first phase of the NKLEP.

March 28. 2012 Juch 101

South Korean internet paper Jaju Minbo carried an article on Mar. 23
...
He said the north is likely to launch a lunar explorer satellite.

http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2012/201203/2012-03-28ee.html

North Korean lunar lander

The second phase of the NKLEP after orbiting.

Aug. 4, 2016

In an interview with The Associated Press, a senior official said that he hopes to see the North Korean flag on the moon within the next 10 years.

"our aerospace scientists will conquer space and definitely plant the flag of the DPRK on the moon," said Hyon Kwang Il, director of the scientific research department of North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/88fa...p-exclusive-north-korea-hopes-plant-flag-moon

2016/09/26

The North Koreans will start designing lunar orbiter and lunar lander immediately after launching a GEO communication satellite as planned in the Second Space Development Five-Year Plan.
The development and completion of the Paektusan-1 rocket engine was an epoch-making event that advanced the moon exploration plan.
...
North Korea is racing to be in the next 10 years, the 7th nation in the world to land a probe on the moon, after the United States (1966), the Soviet Union (1966), Japan (1990), the European Space Agency (2006), India [Chandrayaan-1's Moon Impact Probe (MIP) crash-landed on the lunar surface on 14 November 2008] and China [On 1 March 2009, Chang'e 1 crashed onto the surface of the Moon].

http://www.jajusibo.com/sub_read.html?uid=29662&section=sc38

North Korean lunar sample-return mission

Prerequisite paving the way for any manned moon landing, the third phase of the NKLEP after orbiting and landing would be to return rock samples to the Earth with a robotic probe.

Realizing surface sampling, drilling and sampling, and lunar sample packaging

Realizing take-off and ascending from the lunar surface

Realizing lunar orbit rendezvous docking and sample transfer

Realizing high-speed skip reentry return

Realizing high-accuracy orbit measurement and control

Already hinted back in 2015's Pyongyang Science-Technology Complex.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4266/35069110586_128ceef6a2_b.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dprktoday/35069110586/

▲ Schematics of the orbital trajectory of the North Korean Lunar Exploration Program Phase III: lunar sample-return mission.
Launched with a heavy Unha-20 booster able to place 5t into a LTO, sometimes after 2026. Splash landing of the return capsule in the Pacific Ocean.
Participants in the 8th Congress of the Korean Children's Union visiting the Science-Technology Complex in Pyongyang, on June 5, 2017.

North Korean Lunar Exploration Program Video

Published on Oct 28, 2015

northkorealunarmission-1449464756-jpg.426979

http://

▲ Note: At t=666 seconds (11m06s), possibly the section dedicated to the future North Korean lunar exploration program (Unha-9, Unha-20), as disclosed back in 2012; Hint at future Phase Three with lunar lander and sample-return.

http://
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prJeylQ57x8

▲ Censored:

Pyongyang Opens Science - Technology Complex

http://
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CPqTpny_vo

▲ Uncensored backup video: At T=3m06s section dedicated to the future North Korean lunar exploration program (Unha-9, Unha-20), as disclosed back in 2012; Hint at future Phase Three with lunar lander and sample-return.

Galactic Penguin SST · Sep 25, 2017

North Korea's Lunar Launcher: Unha-9 (은하9호, 銀河九號: Milky Way-9)

"Lucky and Unlucky the Korea Way

The number 9 in North Korea

The North Korean Supreme leadership and the number nine.

It all started at the time of Korea's liberation from Japanese occupation, when there were eight shamans representing the eight provinces of Korea. Out of these, the strongest shaman was thought to be the one from Pyongan-do. He is said to have told Kim Il Sung that the destiny of his bloodline was aligned with the ninth number, which is considered auspicious in East Asia.

Perhaps it was because of this that Kim Il Sung declared the founding date of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to be 9 September. Although there were five provinces at the time, he increased the number to nine. The Supreme Guard Command, Kim Il Sun's personal bodyguard corps, was named Unit 963 (double nine is an especially lucky combination).

The Supreme leadership has its own food chain, also using the number nine. Throughout North Korea you will find so-called No 9 farms and No 9 work details, specially assigned by the central party's financial administration department. Their produce is used to feed the supreme leadership, and these meals are called No 9 products.

Kim Jong Il is said to have repeatedly stressed the fact that his birthday fell on 16 February (1+6+2=9). He decreed that the numberplates of his vehicles should read 2.16; and then, so as to disguise his personal vehicles, assigned this as a common numberplate for all of North Korea's inner elite.

Kim Jong Il was appointed to the highest military post on 24 December (2+4+1+2=9). His appointment as party secretary, which effectively formalised his powers, was made three years and three months after the death of his father, Kim Il Sung.

Applying this to recent North Korean history, we note that Kim Jong Il gave his son, Kim Jong Un, his first public role as general of the Korean People's Army on 27 September 2010 (2+7=9, plus the 9th month, equals double nine). On 11 April (20)12 (1+1+4+1+2=9) Kim Jong Un was appointed first secretary of the Korean Workers' party. Then on 18 July 2012, he was appointed to the rank of marshal.

When North Korea makes international news with an impending rocket launch or nuclear test, outside analysts often cite recent birthdays of the Kims, or other state anniversaries, as influencing the choice of date. But a closer look suggests it has more to do with the number nine.

The country's first nuclear test took place on 9 October 2006. The second space launch was on 5 April 2009 (5+4=9 and nine of 2009, double nine). Another one was successfully launched on 12 December 2012 (1+2+1+2+1+2=9). There was a nuclear test on 12 February (20)13 (1+2+2+1+3=9). A recent North Korean video released on YouTube, in which the first North Korean manned spaceship is launched, features a rocket labelled Unha-9.

https://cdn2-techbang.pixcdn.tw/sys...67d7f1d14c39e18224b62f3076a88e.jpg?1362131793
http://www.techbang.com/posts/12458-north-korea-lifted-the-network-first-instagram-photo-flow?page=2

▲ Unha-9 as depicted in the lobby of the Koryo Hotel in Pyongyang back in October 2013.

http://www.zimbabweonlinenews.com/in-north-korea-nine-is-the-magic-number-the-guardian/

,,

"October 1, 2013

North Korea attempted to unveil a "new type intercontinental ballistic missile" called "Taepodong-X" [in the US] along with a "medium-range missile with unknown name" [called Hwasong-10] on September 9, 2003, and abruptly withdrew it immediately before the military march began.

According to a report on April 3, 2012, the US reconnaissance satellite captured a very large missile with a length of 40 meters, which is much larger than the Moksong-2 (목성-2호, 木星-2號: Jupiter-2) in North Korea, according to the South Korean government sources. The super-sized missile seems to be the Moksong-3 (목성-3호, 木星-3號: Jupiter-3).

The difference between the Moksong-2 and Moksong-3 missiles, both intercontinental ballistic missiles with the same range of 15,000 km, is that they are equipped with single or multiple warheads. In other words, Moksong-2 is a single warhead type, and Moksong-3 is a multiple warhead type.

http://www.onekorea.org/2013/jj_131001.html

,,

"April 19, 2012

<Chosun Shinbo> According to the news on April 14, 2012, the Korean Space and Space Technology Committee has begun the five-year plan for space development started in 2012, and will launch an GEO earth observation satellite within five years.
Needless to say, it is expected to develop a larger satellite-carrying rocket, much larger than the Unha-3, to launch geosynchronous satellites.
The geostationary earth orbit is 35,786 km far away from the equator so it is much larger and stronger than the Unha-3, which is launched toward the sun-synchronous orbit at 500 km above the earth.

According to a report by the South Korean government sources, the Chosun Ilbo reported on April 3, 2012 that a large long-range missile with a 40-meter-long has been spotted by US military reconnaissance satellite, located at the Missile Factory in Pyongyang. The 'long-range missile' they are referring to is a satellite carrying rocket, and the 'missile factory' they are referring to is a satellite carrying rocket assembly plant.
The report above tells us that North Korea has already produced a large satellite-carrying rocket that will launch a geostationary satellite.

http://www.onekorea.org/2012/jj_120419.html

,,

"12/31/2012 10:41:53

The North Korean lunar exploration program will use a new Unha-9 launcher, made of three stages, exceeding 40 meters total long. The first stage diameter will be about 3 meters.

http://www.tongilnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=101028

,,

"July 23, 2015

"North Korea is working hard to test the rocket engine," the source said,
"I am not at liberty to discuss the timing and number of attempts, but North Korea conducted at least two engine combustion tests during the first half of this year," the official said.
"Taking into account the scope of the tests, the new rocket will be larger than Unha-3"

The South Korean intelligence authorities said the rocket engine tests took place at an arms research institute in Sanum-dong of Ryongsong District in northern Pyongyang and the Tongchang-ri Space Launch Facility near the Chinese border.

An engine combustion test takes place on the ground to confirm the operation of a booster for a rocket, and the International Institute for Strategic Studies had earlier said the North conducted four engine combustion tests last year.

South Korean authorities suspect North Korea is preparing a launch of a rocket upgraded from the Unha-3.

After its successful launch of the Unha-3, the state media said the country would continue to bolster its capability by building more rockets under the slogan, "Go for Unha-9 at one burst!" Photos of a model of the Unha-9 were featured in the North's state-run newspaper.

http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3006964

,,

"Aug. 21, 2015

North Korea carried out at least one test of a rocket engine in early August.

In satellite photos taken late last week, scorch marks measuring 60 m in length and 27 m in width were spotted south of the launch pad at the site's vertical engine test stand. A photo of the same location taken last month showed the area covered with foliage.

Extensive new construction work is under way at the facility, with new buildings likely holding rocket fuel and oxidiser future tests.

"When complete, they will provide more than double the storage capacity of the existing structures, suggesting that the North Koreans are developing a capability to test larger, more capable engines".

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2015/08/21/2015082100801.html

,,

"The Paektusan-1(B) rocket engine

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CswVvQTXEAEdTCF.jpg
https://twitter.com/DreamOn_DeadOn/status/778534120641003520
https://twitter.com/DreamOn_DeadOn/status/778534120641003520

▲ The name of the new SLV engine, which was tested by North Korea is "Paektusan-based XXL Liquid Rocket"? It is expected to be shown in the Milky Way-9 rocket (pictured at the Moran Bong Stadium)

http://news.kbs.co.kr/data/news/2016/09/23/3349474_aXC.jpg
http://mn.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?ncd=3349474

▲ Paektusan-1 engine and the North Korean Lunar rocket

since the thrust of Paektusan-1 is 784.5KN, if you build a rocket by attaching 4 rocket engines, you get total thrust of 3,138kN. The 3,138 kN is a tremendous force enough to bring large, heavy payloads of up to 6,000 kilograms into a low earth orbit.
...
It is noted that the burn time of the Chinese YF-20B is 128 seconds and the burn time of Russian RD-117 is 118 seconds, whereas the burn time of Paeksutsan-1 is 200 seconds. This indicates that the Paektusan-1 has a much longer burn time than the other two by comparison. It can be seen that the new type of satellite carrier rocket to be fitted with the Paektusan-1 is a satellite carrier rocket flying farther over the earth's orbit. It is predicted that the new satellite carrier rocket to be fitted with Paektusan-1 will send a satellite to a GEO of 35,786 km.

Low resolution picture: http://www.jajusibo.com/imgdata/jajuilbo_com/201609/2016092612548924.png
High resolution picture: http://i.alalam.ir/news/Image/original/2016/09/20/alalam_636099851113486531_25f_4x3.jpg
http://www.jajusibo.com/sub_read.html?uid=29662&section=sc38

▲ The photo shows a table used by Supreme leader Kim Jong Un, who was placed at the observing station installed near the static test stand.
"백두산계렬 80tf급 액체로케트(발동기): Paektusan Series 80 tf liquid rocket (engine)" is written in red. Note, the world "engine" is out of the camera's field!
The title of the explanatory note indicates that the high-power liquid rocket engine developed and completed at this time is 80 ton-force liquid rocket engine. © Ju Shobo and Han Ho Seok

Code:

╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ Liquid rocket engines comparison ║ ╠════════════════════════╦══════════╦═════════════╦═══════════════════╦══════════╣ ║ Rocket engine (Nation) ║ Thrust ║ Burn time ║ Diameter ║ Mass ║ ╠════════════════════════╬══════════╬═════════════╬═══════════════════╬══════════╣ ║ Paektusan-1 (DPRK) ║ 784.5 kN ║ 200 seconds ║ ~80 cm(estimated) ║ Unknown ║ ╠════════════════════════╬══════════╬═════════════╬═══════════════════╬══════════╣ ║ YF-20B (China) ║ 814 kN ║ 128 seconds ║ 84 cm ║ 2,850 kg ║ ╚════════════════════════╩══════════╩═════════════╩═══════════════════╩══════════╝

http://www.jajusibo.com/sub_read.html?uid=29662&section=sc38

,,

"North Korea has spent nearly 20 years to develop this engine

2017.03.23

According to a North Korean 1999 rocket engine schematic, which was captured on July 22, the turbo pump, which compresses and distributes fuel, including one main engine and four auxiliary engines, is shown as in the test of March 18, 2017. This schematic was found on the North Korean cargo ship Kuwolsan, which was suspected of carrying missile parts in June 1999 and was detained in India.
Considering that North Korea had already obtained the design in the mid-90s, before the schematic was captured, it means that it took North Koreans at least 20 years to develop the engine.

By clustering four [Moksong] engines, the output may be unstable and the engine efficiency is low," thus "To overcome these shortcomings, North Korea developed the new [Paektusan-1] engine."

https://pds.joins.com/news/componen...3/23/6525d3a8-2284-4944-80b6-3f28c44027ed.jpg
http://news.joins.com/article/21396891

▲ Schematics showing a rocket stage powered by a new engine with 4 verniers, taken aboard the North Korean "Kuwol Mountain" cargo ship captured in 1999.

http://news.joins.com/article/21396891

,,

Thrust estimation of the Paektusan-1(B) rocket engine

"2017/09/04

According to a March 20, 2017 report, Korean military experts analyzing the thrust of the new liquid rocket engine shown in the DPRK photographs, evaluated the liquid rocket engine as a 100-ton-force rocket engine.
The 100-ton-force is 980 kilo Newtons. The 80-ton-force liquid rocket engine appeared on the static ground test on September 19, 2016, and the 100-ton-force liquid rocket engine appeared on the static ground test conducted on March 18, 2017. As a result, it can be seen that, as of September 2017, the Paektusan liquid rocket engine series was developed as an 80 ton-force type in 2016 and a 100 ton-force type in 2017, respectively.

http://jajusibo.com/sub_read.html?uid=35475&section=sc38&section2=

,,

The Hwasong-12/14 ICBM seems to be a missile of the same class as the Hwasong-13 ICBM but with more advanced design, therefore the same thrust of about 100 tons, but with only one main engine and four verniers instead of two main engines and four verniers.

Code:

╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║                      Comparative estimated North Korean ICBMs first stage main engine thrusts                       ║
╠═══════════════╤════════════════════════╤════════════════════════════╤═════════════════════════════╤═════════════════╣
║   Launchers   │ Thrust of main engines │ Thrust of verniers engines │ Total thrust of first stage │ Estimated range ║
╟───────────────┼────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────╢
║   Moksong-2   │      4 x 32 tons       │         4 x 5 tons         │          150 tons           │   >11,000 km    ║
╟───────────────┼────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────╢
║  Hwasong-13   │      2 x 35 tons       │         4 x 8 tons         │          102 tons           │   >12,000 km    ║
╟───────────────┼────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────╢
║  Hwasong-12   │      1 x 80 tons       │         4 x 5 tons         │          100 tons           │    ~6,500 km    ║
╟───────────────┼────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────╢
║  Hwasong-14   │      1 x 80 tons       │         4 x 5 tons         │          100 tons           │   ~14,000 km    ║
╚═══════════════╧════════════════════════╧════════════════════════════╧═════════════════════════════╧═════════════════╝

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CvJJk8JUkAApJ-I.jpg
https://twitter.com/stoa1984/status/788775463967600642
https://twitter.com/stoa1984/status/788775463967600642

▲ Speculations on a 2.2 meters diameter second stage of a future LV's through photogrammetric measurements of the vertical gantry tower from video of February 2016 Kwangmyongsong (Unha-4) used to launch Kwangmyongsong-4.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CvJLED6UsAAfS-V.jpg
https://twitter.com/stoa1984/status/788775463967600642
https://twitter.com/stoa1984/status/788775463967600642

▲ Speculations on a 2.2 meters diameter second stage of a future LV through photogrammetric measurements of the vertical gantry tower from video of February 2016 Kwangmyongsong (Unha-4) used to launch Kwangmyongsong-4.

Commentary

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2864/33667839040_0d52f66cc6_b.jpg

https://flic.kr/p/33667839040

https://www.flickr.com/photos/uriminzok/33667839040/

▲ April 15, 2017 picture. Center: notice an Unha-3 represented left of a huge (meaning at least twice the size) Unha-9 model!

Rough estimations:

Unha-3 first stage is ~8 pixel in diameter, for a known 2.4 meters

Unha-3 third stage is ~4 pixel in diameter, for a known 1.25 meters

Unha-9 first stage is ~9 pixel in diameter, therefore ~2.7 meters

Unha-9 third stage is ~6 pixel in diameter, therefore ~1.9 meters

Conclusion this artistic representation suggests a ~3 meters diameter first stage and ~2 meters diameter third stage, perfectly fitting the previous assessments for the Unha-9.
S☫hae

"12 Oct 2015

https://www.sinaimg.cn/dy/slidenews/1_img/2012_51/2841_219037_201876.jpg
http://slide.news.sina.com.cn/w/slide_1_2841_28824.html#p=2

▲ Left:Unha-9 model; Right: Unha-3 models

http://www.jajusibo.com/imgdata/jajuilbo_com/201602/2016021659385881.jpg
http://img.yonhapnews.co.kr/etc/inner/EN/2015/10/13/AEN20151013002100315_01_i.jpg
https://www.bktv.co.kr/sub_read.html?uid=3149

▲ Left: Pukguksong-1; Center: Unha-3; Right: Unha-9. There is no big difference between the height of the Unha-3 and the height of Unha-9. Instead, the diameters are different.

http://pan.xici.com/group4/M03/3E/2C/rBABp1VWK72EDH7OAAAAAFi2A3M233.jpg
http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...tm?person=22696206+&cd=15&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=jp
https://scontent-fra3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e15/1597883_852257398166700_1306940965_n.jpg

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

▲ Left: Unha-2; Center: Unha-3; Right: Unha-9 with obvious larger first stage diameter

http://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/Rest_World/Unha-9/Gallery/Unha-9.jpg
http://archive.is/jNetq
http://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/Rest_World/Unha-9/Description/Frame.htm

▲ German space enthusiast's Unha-9 with first stage diameter wrongly represented

,,

"
Latest 2017 representation of the North Korean Unha-9

https://media.giphy.com/media/XB0qsXM1t4IKs/giphy.gif
http://
Published on Sep 13, 2017

A national exhibition of experimental apparatus and teaching aids and an educational books exhibition took place at the Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang, some days ago. The DPRK has set this year as a year of science and education.
On display at the exhibitions were many experimental apparatuses, educational aids, multimedia programs, simulation experiment and practice programs and educational books presented by education institutions and education publishing houses.
The exhibitions served as good occasions conducive to putting education on an IT and modern basis and bringing up the rising generation to be reliable masters of a talent power.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WlE0bhcZQ8

▲ Video published on Sep 13, 2017, showing Unha-9 model at T=1m47s to 1m52.5s

,,

https://i.imgur.com/D5SMkXv.jpg
http://

▲ North Korean Unha launchers family
:lol:

See also

[China's best pupil: Part1] North Korea to reenact the DF-5 ICBM first ever full range test flight

[China's best pupil: Part2] North Korea's Underground Great Wall

[China's best pupil: Part3] North Korea's Indigenous Fighter Aircraft

[China's best pupil: Part4] Korea's First Manned Propelled Flying Vehicle

[China's best pupil: Part5] North Korea's Rare Earth Reserves

[China's best pupil: Part6] North Korea's Crude Oil Reserves

[China's best pupil: Part7] North Korea's Recoverable Capsule

[China's best pupil: Part8] North Korea's Manned Spacecraft

Galactic Penguin SST · Feb 25, 2018

More versions of the Unha-9: Unha-9A and Unha-9B

Latest artistic representation from the DPRK of the upcoming future Unha (은하) space launcher as painted on a kid's kite (우주감국: Ujugamguk, Space Chrysanthemum?) during the Day of The Shining Star 2018 and the Korean New Year 2018 holiday period, Kim Il Sun Square, Pyongyang (image Uploaded on February 17, 2018).

https://defence.pk/pdf/attachments/...0/?temp_hash=a25d39e6c54acf21f5ab8e91181537b6
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4697/40324580261_45988b16ff_b.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/arirangmeari/40324580261/
Geolocation:
39.019741, 125.752333

▲ Future Unha space launcher as painted on a kid's kite during the Day of The Shining Star 2018 on 16 February 2018, and Korean New Year 2018 holiday period, Kim Il Sun Square, Pyongyang. Uploaded on February 17, 2018

Comparison with the previous September 13, 2017 video confirmes the payload fairing nosecone's hemispherical shape and red color.
This time the second stage diameter seems smaller (~estimated 2 to 2.4 meters ?) than the first stage (~possibly 3 to 3.3 meters ?), and no longer of the same diameter (as the Unha-9B, a name I choosed for more clarity).
There is no more third stage visible.
Probably an earlier version of the Unha-9 (I choose to call it the Unha-9A for more clarity).
However, the overall Diameter to Length ratio does not change.
Logically, one should expect that the Unha-9A should be less powerful than the three stages Unha-9B stacked with an enlarged second stage and third stage.

https://media.giphy.com/media/XB0qsXM1t4IKs/giphy.gif
Published on Sep 13, 2017

A national exhibition of experimental apparatus and teaching aids and an educational books exhibition took place at the Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang, some days ago. The DPRK has set this year as a year of science and education.
On display at the exhibitions were many experimental apparatuses, educational aids, multimedia programs, simulation experiment and practice programs and educational books presented by education institutions and education publishing houses.
The exhibitions served as good occasions conducive to putting education on an IT and modern basis and bringing up the rising generation to be reliable masters of a talent power.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WlE0bhcZQ8

▲ Video published on Sep 13, 2017, showing Unha-9 model at T=1m47s to 1m52.5s

A first launch for the new Unha-9 seems imminent, as South Korea's KARI also just announced the first test launch of its pilot launcher, south Korean equivalent of the Hwasong-12/14, the two stages KSLV-2 II with a diameter of 2.6 meters and total length of 26 meters, and powered by a single-chamber 75 ton-force engine for October 2018.
The next south Korean launcher, the KSLV-2-III to be launched no earlier than December 2019 will be powered by four 75 ton-force engines, developping a liftoff thrust of 300 ton-force similar to the Unha-9, powered by four 80 ton-force Paektusan-1 engines.

https://defence.pk/pdf/attachments/...1/?temp_hash=a25d39e6c54acf21f5ab8e91181537b6
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DWb9UQ2V4AE5Y7X.jpg
https://twitter.com/kari2030/status/965737921843113984

2018.02.18

The first test launch of the Korean launch vehicle, which was originally developed after the launch of the Naro LV, is scheduled for October this year.

The lower part of the rocket with the moving gimballed engine was assembled with the first stage.

Inside the rocket, every electronic equipments have also been connected.

The rocket is 2.6 meters in diameter and 26 meters in length.

This completes the assembly of the first test LV with the 75-ton thrust engine.

The rocket, which has been assembled, is standing up for the ground static test, and it will be the first test launched in October.

We are developing the next South Korean launch vehicle, with a first stage thrust of 300 tons.

http://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?ncd=3607352&ref=D

▲ South Korea pilot launcher KSLV-2 II. 19 Feb 2018

https://defence.pk/pdf/attachments/...0/?temp_hash=fa869c0bc071a40f99107fbbf9878385
Link when accessed: http://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets/Specials/North-Korea/index.htm
Mirror of the link: http://archive.is/HZnA8

▲ Denial mode in Germany, or another major miscalculation in the making...

See also

[China's best pupil: Part1] North Korea to reenact the DF-5 ICBM first ever full range test flight

[China's best pupil: Part2] North Korea's Underground Great Wall

[China's best pupil: Part3] North Korea's Indigenous Fighter Aircraft

[China's best pupil: Part4] Korea's First Manned Propelled Flying Vehicle

[China's best pupil: Part5] North Korea's Rare Earth Reserves

[China's best pupil: Part6] North Korea's Crude Oil Reserves

[China's best pupil: Part7] North Korea's Recoverable Capsule

[China's best pupil: Part8] North Korea's Manned Spacecraft

[China's best pupil: Part9] North Korea's Unha-9 Space Launcher

[China's best pupil: Part10] North Korea's Unha-18 Manned Space Launcher

[China's best pupil: Part11] North Korea's Reusable Space Launcher

Galactic Penguin SST · Dec 25, 2019

First payload for the Unha-9 SLV, as revealed just a week before the first launch of the Hwasong-15 ICBM on 29 November 2017, and before the self-declared moratorium on space launch of 2018: Earth remote sensing-satellite or communication satellite.

North Korean plans for two new satellite types revealed

DPRK space administration unveils desire to launch new satellites to Russian visitor

Khrustalev Vladimir December 8, 2017

I visited the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) for a one week period between the 13 and 20 November, during which I got a chance to do something truly amazing: to engage in discussions with representatives of the National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) of the DPRK on November 19.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to immediately disclose information about these discussions after returning to Russia, but now I can officially tell readers about it.

Korean representatives of the organization – which is responsible for the development of prospective programs in the fields of space exploration and space vehicle development – such as head of the department Kim Jong O and head of section Kim Chol, took part in this meeting.

Kwangmyongsong satellites

Currently, NADA’s plan for 2017 is being completed. The main purpose of this plan is to develop two new satellites. The first is an Earth remote exploration-satellite which weighs “over 100kg” and has a scanning resolution of “several meters.”

Although this satellite belongs to the category of 100-1000 kg equipment, an interesting detail should be noted about it. It was stated that the weight of the Kwangmyongsong 3-2 satellite is 100 kg, while Kwangmyongsong 4 was stated to have a weight of “over 100 kg.”

The second satellite is much more interesting. This is a communication satellite which works on a geostationary Earth orbit and weighs over 1000 kg.

I asked twice, and I was given an affirmative answer: I was told that a geostationary orbit will be used, and that the satellite weight will comprise over 1000kg. As I understood things, this might mean that the satellite may weigh well over a ton, even as much as two or three tons.
...
I also asked them about different past announcements regarding sending spacecraft into orbit or even to the surface of the moon.

http://web.archive.org/web/20171208...n-plans-for-two-new-satellite-types-revealed/
http://archive.ph/JPqRc

Note that in 2012, the initial Five-Years development plan for space activities from 2012 to 2016 was to launch 6 more satellites: (source: tongilnews.com, 2012.12.31 )

• 2012-2016: Earth observation Kwangmyongsong-4
• 2012-2016: Earth observation Kwangmyongsong-5
• 2012-2016: Communication Kwangmyongsong-6
• 2012-2016: Communication Kwangmyongsong-7
• 2012-2016: Communication Kwangmyongsong-8
• 2012-2016: Lunar orbiter

The Second Space Development Five-Year Plan starting in 2017:
• 2017-2021: Geostationary communication satellite
• 2017-2021: Manned spacecraft

http://web.archive.org/web/20191012...ilnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=101028
http://archive.ph/xS7EC

It seems that after the end of the moratorium, and the failure to launch one satellite per year, the space plan might have been modified, as stated in the above article.

Galactic Penguin SST · Jan 2, 2020

The obligatory annual new year's hint.

For the celebration of the New Year Juche 109 (2020), no new hint but only a more discrete redisplay of the Unha-9 painted on a kite, first seen during the Day of The Shining Star 2018 and the Korean New Year 2018 holiday period, Kim Il Sun Square, Pyongyang (image Uploaded on February 17, 2018).

http://archive.ph/05SwH/79f7d4acfbc36058ccd6f831addd86da5f772366.jpg ; https://archive.ph/05SwH/7faae77d4af81ab4b07a92c4b77a33ab8cc60982/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20200102...om/content//photo/2020/20200102-pt17476-4.jpg ; http://web.archive.org/web/20200102013933/https://dprktoday.com/view/42/17476/0/0/0/k ; http://archive.ph/WjMld
▲ 1. Future Unha-9 space launcher as painted on a kid's kite during the celebration of the New Year Juche 109 (2020), Kim Il Sun Square, Pyongyang. Uploaded on 2 January 2020.

Commentary

The hint is no longer new, therefore there is no more close up.

But the maiden launch seems imminent, and expected for end of January 2020 or early February, as the launch campaign was started in December 2019.

powastick · Jan 2, 2020

@Galactic Penguin SST Manned space launch? I hope this is real. More hints?

Galactic Penguin SST · Jan 30, 2020

The obligatory annual Korean Lunar New Year's hint.

For the celebration of the Korean Lunar New Year Juche 109 (2020), for the first time in years, no new hint as rocket images painted on children's kites, unlike during the Korean New Year 2018 holiday period for instance, seen in the Kim Il Sun Square, Pyongyang (image Uploaded on February 17, 2018).

Only insects painted:
http://arirangmeari.com/index.php?t=photo&no=500
http://archive.ph/u69Od

But a more discrete glimpse in a youtube video, of a redisplayed Unha-9B, the two stages Unha-9 version with a second stage of same diameter as the first stage:

http://archive.ph/VwbC0/c0219f9c53de52663f031f481dceb4010788ae31.jpg ; https://archive.ph/VwbC0/1ba939c46ea79180518cc35a7a21b30c786a9a13/scr.png ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQiBHsPBpng ; [방문기]웃음꽃 피여나는 설명절 ; •Jan 26, 2020 ; KanccTV 264 subscriber
▲ 1. Unha-9B in a video: first and second stage sharing the same diameter. 26 JAN 2020

Notice that at the same time Iran has disclosed its new 4 meters diameter liquid propellant Sourosh rocket!

Indeed, according to this translator:

2:25 AM · Jan 30, 2020·Twitter

Overview of the new Iranian SLV projects announced by AIO spokesman Ahmad Hosseini

• The next SLV in the pipeline is Sarir, which is based on Simorgh but will have a new upper stage. Overall length will be about 35m with a diameter of 2.4m for the whole length of the missile.

• Soroush is a project planned for the more distant future and will be a liquid-propellant SLV with a diameter of 4m.

• Hosseini also mentioned that they are pursuing solid-propellant SLV technology to 'reduce prices' and stated that he hopes 'this can be published in the future'

https://twitter.com/fab_hinz/status/1222692250859106304

http://archive.is/KNGwF/14b4aebdf050cdf44c7e1ebb782fe9a31a802dd7.jpg ; https://archive.is/KNGwF/26d89a6604195bbad45ccd54935ae2158361e77a/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20200121192814/https://i.imgur.com/2e4tiR7.jpg
▲ 3. Artistic representation of the North Korean space launchers, as of January 2020.

tower9 · Jan 30, 2020

Koreans really punch above their weight

Galactic Penguin SST · Oct 18, 2020

tower9 said:
Koreans really punch above their weight

Probably the last update before the 2021 maiden flight:

Galactic Penguin SST said:
New estimation for the diameter: about 3 meters. That makes the new ICBM closer to the 3.35 meters DF-5 ICBM and 3.7 meters Safir-4.

https://archive.is/P6iQS/46ad0f55379cf8b25d3d5e5dcc0bb8a8cfa2c653.jpg ; https://archive.is/P6iQS/39d78f355ec738c9f21ed04e8bbca0e6308c3180/scr.png ; https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EkDOdvvVcAE7MPi?format=jpg&name=large
▲ 1. A diameter of about 3 meters.

Moreover, the Safir-3 series is fitted only with a two chambers engine, with total thrust that reach 160 ton-force at liftoff.

And new pictures shows 4 nozzles in the new Safir-4-like ICBM!

https://archive.vn/uDCui/e685c6b8331cc63789708de7a658619613f89518.jpg ; https://archive.vn/uDCui/034452d253eca95d27232e89f2e72c46371013f7/scr.png ; https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EkQMKx7WoAAiijQ?format=jpg&name=900x900
▲ 2. New pictures shows 4 nozzles in the new Safir-4-like ICBM.

The question is can the 4 nozzles of the alleged two RD-250 engines, that develop only 2x 80 ton-force thrust or 160 ton-force at liftoff possibly lift the future Safir-4A (Unha-9) SLV rated at more than 210 tons?

https://archive.is/2rPhx/d3e1f4db0a5443566f69dbd4707d8086a08c01ae.jpg ; https://archive.is/2rPhx/5da0c6571f30c780fd5185838827460e930f7775/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201015031542/https://i.imgur.com/5pANfDm.jpg
▲ 3. The Safir-4A (Unha-9) with mass of 210 tons at liftoff, powered by 4 engines of 80-tf.

It would never take off!

The only possibility is therefore 4 nozzles of 80 ton-force each developing a total liftoff thrust of 320 ton-force!

After 8 years, the RD-250 fallacy totally collapses.

Leaving room for the Paektusan-1D engine of 80-tf with single chamber.

Confusion for the western media's professionals in explaining this contradiction: "4 RD-250 engines"

https://archive.vn/dU6pa/852d2713d588df003bf6de8172c5a32ed9208057.png ; https://archive.vn/dU6pa/d33f7c43858993013e560c8af2dc954a30342191/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201015031608/https://i.imgur.com/0cMmnl0.png
▲ 4. RD-250 fallacy collapsing.

And indeed, the Unha-9 was from day one intended to be the direct competitor with the South Korean KSLV-II launcher, of 200 tons. Also powered by 4 main engines of 75 ton-force! As both will be launched next year.

https://archive.vn/91yEL/e836cf89073be21597f74d15d80e9805a28cfee4.jpg ; https://archive.vn/91yEL/34f1f4cd565f30f0aecc78dedff394b4efb67503/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201015204641/https://i.imgur.com/9dBgppW.jpg
▲ 5. Unha-9 and KSLV-II both of 200 tons powered by 4 main engines.

SAFIR-3 space launch vehicle

Smoking gun or... smoking engines Indeed, a mysterious image was posted on the instagram page of aeroview.blogfa.com on 6th March 2020, of a two nozzles configuration, confirming the hypothesis on the Safir-3 family, where the first stage would be powered by a set of two 80-tf to 100-tf engines...

defence.pk

高丽民族将于2021年首次发射两枚类似长征二号运载火箭：北朝鲜银河九号和韩国KSLV-2号。

外型及质量参数

外型及质量参数	北朝鲜银河九号运载火箭	韩国KSLV-2号运载火箭
高度（米）	~44 米	47.2 米
直径（米）	3 米	3.5 米
质量（吨）	~210 吨	200 吨
级数	3节	3节
有效载荷-近地轨道（吨）	~4 吨 LEO	2.6 吨 LEO, 1.5吨 SSO
第一级
高度（米）	~18.5 米	23.1 米
直径（米）	3 米	3.5 米
质量（吨）	131 吨	吨
发动机数	4 * 颗白头山一号丁（Paektusan-1D）	4 * KRE-075
单发推力	880.0 千牛顿 (Vac.)	746.3 千牛顿 (Vac.), 684.1 千牛顿 (SL)
总推力	3520 千牛顿 (Vac.)	2985.2 千牛顿 (Vac.), 2616 千牛顿 (SL)
燃料	四氧化二氮/偏二甲肼	液氧/煤油RP-1
第二级
高度（米）	~16.50 米	15.6 米
直径（米）	2.4 米	2.6 米
质量（吨）	61.50 吨	吨
发动机数	1 * 颗白头山一号丙（Paektusan-1C）	1 * KRE-075V
单发推力	880.0 千牛顿 (Vac.)	788.45 千牛顿 (Vac.)
总推力	880.0 千牛顿 (Vac.)	788.45 千牛顿 (Vac.)
燃料	四氧化二氮/偏二甲肼	液氧/煤油RP-1
第三级
高度（米）	3 米	1.5 米
直径（米）	2.4 米	2.6 米
质量（吨）	12.65 吨	吨
发动机数	2 *	1 * KRE-007V
单发推力		68.64 千牛顿 (Vac.)
总推力	125.0 千牛顿 (Vac.)	68.64 千牛顿 (Vac.)
燃料	四氧化二氮/偏二甲肼	液氧/煤油RP-1
整流罩
高度（米）	6 米	6.8 米

“银河九号”运载火箭与“千里马号”载人飞船的成功发射将明后年实现高丽民族的千年飞天梦想！

Galactic Penguin SST · Nov 12, 2020

powastick said:
@Galactic Penguin SST Manned space launch? I hope this is real. More hints?

Soviet R-36 (8K69, OR-36, R-36orb) Fractional Orbital Bombing System

The R-36-O was the only orbiting military nuclear weapon ever deployed, although in order to remain legal under international treaties it was a 'fractional orbital' weapon, 18 missiles were operational from 1969 to 1983.

The 8F021 orbiting warhead had the Russian acronym OGCh. It consisted of an 8F673 orbital module, and fixed on top of it the re-entry vehicle.

The 8F673 orbital module was an equipment unit which oriented the spacecraft in orbit and autonomously determined when to make the braking maneuver to bring the re-entry vehicle down from orbit.

The 8F673 orbital module included an inertial navigation system and a radar altimeter which measured the altitude of the orbit and thereby determined when to make the braking maneuver. A solid fuel cartridge then spun up the turbine assembly of the liquid propellant (N2O4/UDMH) braking engine. Orientation was by 4 + 4 thrusters using turbine exhaust gases.

LEO Payload: 1'700 kg to a 150 km orbit. Standard warhead: 1'700 kg. Maximum range: 40'000 km. Number Standard Warheads: 1. Standard RV: 8F021. Warhead yield: 5'000 KT. CEP: 1.10 km. Boost Propulsion: Storable liquid rocket, N2O4/UDMH. Cruise Thrust: 940.400 kN. Cruise Thrust: 95'900 kgf. Cruise engine: RD-252. Initial Operational Capability: 1969.

Stage Data - R-36-O

• Stage 1. 1 x R-36-0-1. Gross Mass: 125'000 kg. Empty Mass: 8'500 kg. Thrust (vac): 2'640.000 kN. Isp: 301 sec. Burn time: 120 sec. Isp(sl): 269 sec. Diameter: 3.00 m. Span: 3.00 m. Length: 18.90 m. Propellants: N2O4/UDMH. No Engines: 1. Engine: RD-251.
• Stage 2. 1 x R-36-0-2. Gross Mass: 48'000 kg. Empty Mass: 5'000 kg. Thrust (vac): 955.991 kN. Isp: 317 sec. Burn time: 160 sec. Diameter: 3.00 m. Span: 3.00 m. Length: 9.40 m. Propellants: N2O4/UDMH. No Engines: 1. Engine: RD-252.

R-36O 8K69

www.astronautix.com

_____
▲ 1. 8К69 (SS-9 Mod 3) was the first orbiting military nuclear weapon deployed by the U.S.S.R.

_____
▲ 2. The 1'700 kg 8F021 orbiting warhead had the Russian acronym OGCh。

_____
▲ 3. The 1'700 kg 8F021 orbiting warhead had the Russian acronym OGCh。

_____
▲ 4. Soviet 8F673 orbital module。

Chinese DF-6 (东风六号导弹) Fractional Orbital Bombing System

The cancelled Chinese DF-6 FOBS ICBM (东风六号导弹) developed starting from November 1966, was made of 3 stages, all burning liquid propellants. The first stage could produce a thrust of 400 tonnes at liftoff, carrying a 3'200 kg orbiting warhead.

The maximum range was 31'000 km, the length 45 m, the total mass 270 tonnes.

The DF-6 was an uprated DF-5.

The DF-6 missile was to carry the first Chinese manned spacecraft Shuguang-1, and the first GEO satellite.

Prototype of the spaceraft and spacesuit were developed, astronaut selection process also started.

First launch of the spacecraft was expected by 1975.

The program was cancelled on 28 March 1974, due to economic difficulties.

Disclosing China's Dongfeng 6 missile: with range three times that of the Dongfeng 41, project ultimately cancelled

May 31, 2018 10:16 Sina Military

In China's ballistic missile family, intercontinental missiles have always been the most mysterious and attracting the most attention.

Among the models that have been disclosed so far, the heaviest is the Dongfeng-5B liquid intercontinental strategic nuclear missile.

The Dongfeng-5 ballistic missile was developed by China in the 1970s, but what is less known is that China was preparing to develop a missile named Dongfeng-6.

Dongfeng-6 was a three-stage liquid missile with a staggering maximum range of 31'000 kilometers, a total length of 45 meters, and a maximum take-off weight of 270 tons.

The multi-warheads FOBS ICBM was underground silo-launched.

In that era, this kind of missile with a range of tens of thousands of kilometers had a proud name: Orbiting Missile (环球导弹).

As early as the 1960s, the Soviet Union had been equipped with an Orbiting Missile, which was the R-36O, an improved R-36 missile (NATO codename SS-9).

The missile had a launch weight of 181 tons, a diameter of 3.05 meters, and used liquid fuel.

Compared with other types of R-36 missiles, the missile mainly had an added third-stage, which could send a warhead into the earth's orbit, heading toward the southern hemisphere after passing the south pole, and attack from the south where the United States did not have a missile warning system at the time.

The R-36O has a maximum range of 40'000 kilometers. It began to be deployed in 1968. Since then, it has been tested twice a year to show the United States that the Soviet Union had the capability to use this missile and also verify its reliability.

Perhaps it is precisely because of the Soviet Union's Orbiting Missile that China decided to develop such class of intercontinental ballistic missile in the last century. Stimulated by the Soviet R-36O, China also devised its own Orbiting Missile plan.

This was the Dongfeng 6 mentioned at the beginning of the article.

In December 1966, the National Defense Science and Technology Commission agreed to include the Dongfeng-6 in the development plan.

In November 1967, the National Defense Science and Technology Commission held a Dongfeng-6 Orbiting Missile program demonstration meeting, which clarified the main tactical and technical specifications.

At the same time, the Dongfeng-6 space launch vehicle plan for carrying the first manned spacecraft Shuguang-1 (Dawn-1:曙光一号) of the country's along the first geosynchronous orbit satellite was planned.

A lot of technical coordination works were conducted many times.

In 1970, the National Defense Science and Technology Commission proposed to Premier Zhou Enlai and the Central Military Commission the Request for Instructions on the Development of Manned Spacecraft and Communication Satellites (Draft), and proposed the Shuguang-1 manned spacecraft (code name 714 project) with place for two astronauts, and flight time up to eight days in orbit. The plan was scheduled for the first unmanned spacecraft to be launched in 1973 and the maiden manned spacecraft in 1974.

The launch vehicle of the Shuguang-1 was to be the Dongfeng-6 Orbiting Missile.

In 1971, the Seventh Ministry of Machinery reported the Preliminary Development Plan for Dongfeng-6 to the National Defense Science and Technology Commission.

In this plan, it was clear that the range of the Dongfeng-6 would be 16'000 to 31'000 kilometers.

However, when the Dongfeng-6 missile was developed, the technical specifications proposed and the related technologies planned to be adopted were too advanced.

The plug nozzle engine belong to a class of altitude compensating nozzles, such a new class of engine planned to be used then has not even entered actual use until today.

Dongfeng-6 was a three-stage rocket. The first stage used a conventional 400-ton high-thrust engine, the second stage used an altitude compensating nozzle engine, and the third stage was a post-boost vehicle.

Each stages of this three-stage rocket used different rocket engines, making technical challenges too difficult.

By investing more time on the DF-6, it would have definitely affected the development of the equally important Dongfeng-5.

On 28th March 1974, the Seventh Ministry of Machinery informed the First Academy that, according to the instructions of the Deputy Director of the National Defense Science and Technology Commission Qian Xuesen, the National Defense Science and Technology Commission decided to stop the development of the Dongfeng-6.

Prior to this, the development of the Shuguang-1 manned spacecraft project had also begun to slow down.

In fact, Dongfeng-6 is not an intercontinental missile in the traditional sense, but a FOBS (Fractional Orbital Bombing System) missile system, also known as an Orbiting Missile.

FOBS is usually on standby on the ground, and when used, it is launched into earth orbit. After the rocket second stage is separated, according to ground instructions, the retro-rockets of the PBV are fired sending it into a deorbiting orbit into the atmosphere.

Because it only achieves a fraction of a complete orbit before reentering the atmosphere, it is called a fractional orbital bombing system.

However, if the developement of the Dongfeng-6 project had the conditions to continue, it should still be able to succeed.

After all, in terms of overall technical level, the Dongfeng-6 is equivalent to an uprated version of the Dongfeng-5.

Even if it did not place nuclear warheads in orbit, it could have been used in civilian manned spaceflight.

If the development of the Dongfeng-6 had not been cancelled, China's first manned spaceflight would not have taken place only in 2003, but 25 years earlier.

东风六号导弹_百度百科

“东风6号”并非传统意义上的洲际导弹，而是一种FOBS导弹系统，又被称为轨道轰炸器，其可搭载质量高达3200千克的战斗部。“东风6号”理论射程可绕地球一周，所以被称做环球火箭。由于“东风6号”的技术难度太大，三级火箭每一级发动机都不相同，尤其是第二级的塞式发动机，直到目前美国仍处于研制当中。最后经过科研人员三年的奋战，“东风6号”不得不中途下马，而部分资金和技术则转移到了其它型号的导弹与火箭上。...

baike.baidu.com

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mil.news.sina.com.cn

https://archive.vn/ErbjG/d1acbc4f6e375bda584cf2ef255d019faab33ed5.jpg; https://archive.vn/ErbjG/e723dd9a0e5cf18563ff99dbde5794feaed1d12d/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201110202729/http://ipic.su/jGLT.jpg
▲ 5. The Shuguang-1 (Dawn One) manned spacecraft (code-named Project 714) was piloted by two astronauts and had a maximum flight time of eight days. It was planned to launch an unmanned spacecraft in 1973 and a manned spacecraft in 1974. The Shuguang-1 was lanched by the Dongfeng-6 Orbiting Missile.

North Korea’s Fractional Orbital Bombing System

Peeking under the shroud of North Korea’s Monster Missile

November 5, 2020

Some unresolved questions surround the huge new mobile missiles that North Korea showed off in last month’s parade. Most of all: what will they carry, and when will the North Koreans reveal it through flight-testing?

Let’s start with what we can observe. The external characteristics of the weapon are consistent with a two-stage, liquid-propelled ICBM. In many ways, it’s similar to the Hwasong-15, which North Korea tested in 2017, but on a larger scale. My CNS colleagues estimate that the new missile is about 25 m long, compared to the roughly 20 m-long HS-15. It has a first stage of about 2.4 m [3 m] in diameter, compared to the approximately 2.1 m [2.4 m] diameter of the HS-15.

Like the HS-15, the Monster Missile features a “skirt” at the base of its first stage, suggesting a cluster of gimbaled engines, and an evocatively named “shroud” over its payload section at the front. That’s a hollow cover that pops off after the missile leaves the atmosphere, allowing whatever the missile carries to deploy.

As Mike Elleman and Vann van Diepen were quick to observe, the HS-15 already appears capable of sending a heavy payload to anyplace on the mainland of these United States. It follows that the new missile wasn’t built for greater range, but to carry a bigger, heavier payload. Which means… what?

Even before the parade, veteran intelligence analysts Markus Garlauskas and Bruce Perry noted that the logical next step for the North Korean ICBM program would be to deploy multi-warhead missiles in order to thwart U.S. missile defenses. Ensuring that North Korea’s nuclear weapons can penetrate the American “shield” may be what Kim Jong Un meant when he said in 2017 that “our final goal is to establish the equilibrium of real force [or “effective balance of power”] with the U.S. and make the U.S. rulers dare not talk about [a] military option for the DPRK.”

The U.S. pioneered the multiple reentry vehicle (MRV) concept in the early 1960s, followed by the multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV). The Soviet Union caught up with their own versions within a decade or so. You could think of MRV as nuclear grapeshot, spraying a handful of bombs across one area. MIRV is more precise and more adaptable; it involves a small rocket engine called a post-boost vehicle, or “bus,” that pushes each warhead it carries onto a selected course, sending them to different targets if desired.

Some combination of multiple warheads and missile-defense countermeasures–chaff, decoys, and so forth–has become the favorite in this morbid little guessing game. If they’re ambitious, perhaps the North Koreans might be trying to replicate Britain’s Chevaline payload, which was designed to let its Polaris missiles thwart nuclear-tipped interceptors placed around Moscow. Chevaline was a two-warhead system with a post-boost vehicle that dispensed countermeasures into various patterns in space. It’s also rather well-documented today, as these things go.

There’s another possibility that I’ve yet to see explored at length, though. Let’s call it a dark horse. It’s another approach to beating missile defense, and one that requires a heavy payload, but no more than a single warhead per missile. That’s the fractional orbital bombardment system (FOBS).

FOBS was a Soviet innovation, brought to fruition in the mid-1960s, before the USSR developed its own multiple-warhead missiles. It involved a modified ICBM that launched its payload into low earth orbit. When the payload approached its target, an onboard retro-rocket would fire, deorbiting the warhead.

The advantage of FOBS was its ability to circumvent NORAD’s lines of early-warning radars in Canada. The FOBS weapon could be launched in any direction, allowing the USSR to launch an attack over the South Pole if desired.

Today’s early-warning radars don’t just provide warning; they also supply crucial data to the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD). These radars are located in Alaska, Greenland, the UK, California, and Massachusetts, pointing north, west, and east, whereas the interceptors themselves are mostly in Alaska, waiting for an attack from the north. Thus, the same old FOBS concept remains applicable. It’s even enjoying new life in Russia, whose president has said that the Sarmat multi-warhead missile can attack over either the North or the South Pole.

With the ability to attack in FOBS mode, North Korea could compel the United States to an unhappy choice: either build what amounts to a substantially new, south-facing defensive architecture, or accept that it cannot physically prevent nuclear attack from Pyongyang, even under the sunniest of assumptions about GMD’s performance.

Even if North Korea is building a FOBS today, its leaders probably anticipate a transition to MIRV in time, following the Soviet precedent. But FOBS could have certain advantages for now. First, the technology simply might be more rapidly attainable. Second, sticking with just one warhead per missile demands less fissile material. Third, it also avoids creating pressure to return to nuclear testing to demonstrate the smaller, lighter warheads most suited to MRV or MIRV. Fourth, being able to deorbit a payload essentially anywhere means that North Korea could finally conduct a fully realistic and instrumented test of an intercontinental-class reentry vehicle on its own territory, or close to its own shores; they’d just have to fly one all the way around the world.

There’s an uncomfortably large chance that we’ll find out soon what the Monster Missile hides under that shroud. A transition to a Biden administration on January 20, 2021 gives Kim Jong Un an incentive to try to demonstrate the existence of an “effective balance of power” beforehand, since it might strengthen his hand without directly challenging the newly inaugurated president. Kim has set the 8th Workers’ Party Congress for January as well; the success of a “new strategic weapon”–either real success or merely alleged–could set the stage for changes in governing structures and the direction of policy.

Whatever does happen, I can’t see any benefits from sitting back and waiting for North Korea to demonstrate the ability to overcome GMD by whatever means. That will mean bargaining for the reaffirmation of Kim Jong Un’s April 2018 pledge not to test long-range missiles or nuclear devices, which he declared a dead letter in January of this year. How that will work will be up to the new team in Washington, but the sooner they decide on their approach, the better.

Peeking under the shroud of North Korea’s Monster Missile

www.armscontrolwonk.com

___
▲ 6. Iranian 1'800 kg E1 spacecraft： new prototype disclosed in 2016 on the left， first 2015 exhibition model on the right。

____
▲ 7. North Korean Unha-9 SLV carrying the 1'800 kg one-seater E1 spacecraft (Mallima: “千里马号”（천리마）)， similar to the Project 714 Shuguang-1 spacecraft。

The model disclosed so far by Iran of the E1 is only the reentry vehicle. Because it is the only part to be tested in the first suborbital phase.

Expect a future orbital module to be disclosed only after that, in the phase two when orbital manned flight will be considered, and similar in shape and size to the Soviet 8F673 orbital module!

Vehicle Design	Soviet 8K69 FOBS	Chinese DF-6 (东风六号)	North Korean Unha-9 (은하9호)
Start of Development	April 1962	1971	2012
First flight	December 1965	Planned 1973 Project cancelled on 28 March 1974	Speculated 2021
Total length	32.60 m	45 m	~44 m
Diameter	3.05 m		3 m
Gross liftoff weight	181 t	270 t	~210 t
Stage	3	3	3
Payload weight LEO/warhead	4.5 t / 1.7 t @150km	3.200 t	~4 t / 1.8 t
Max range	40'000 km	31'000 km
Stage 1			Hwasong-16
Length	18.90 m		~18.5 m
Diameter	3 m		3 m
Liftoff weight	125 t		131 t
Engines	1*RD-251		4 * Paektusan-1D
Thrust			880.0 kN (Vac.)
Total thrust	2366 kN/2640 kN Vac	400 tf	3520 kN (Vac.)
Propellant	UDMH/N2O4	liquid	UDMH/N2O4
Stage 2			Hwasong-15
Length	9.40 m		~16.50 m
Diameter	3 m		2.4 m
Liftoff weight	48 t		61.50 t
Engines	1*RD-252	altitude compensating nozzle engine	1 * Paektusan-1C
Thrust			880.0 kN (Vac.)
Total thrust	940.400 kN/955.991 kN Vac		880.0 kN (Vac.)
Propellant	UDMH/N2O4	liquid	UDMH/N2O4
Stage 3	OGCh
Length			3 m
Diameter			2.4 m
Liftoff weight	1700kg		12.65 t
Engines	RD-854		2 *
Thrust	7.7 t
Total thrust
Propellant	UDMH/N2O4	liquid	UDMH/N2O4

Galactic Penguin SST · Nov 15, 2020

No wonder, the range from both Iran and North Korea for an FOBS targeting the U.S.A. mainland from the south direction, after circumnavigating the South Pole and the Southern Hemisphere is 30'000 km. Similar to the DF-6 FOBS.

https://archive.is/ivyJH/72cfd94021754183dd05ba21e89c47aca915ceb9.jpg ; https://archive.is/ivyJH/c0b2abee4477a09093ddac025a9c5621d2cca7be/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201115042022/https://i.imgur.com/zSYeykO.jpg
▲ 1. The range from both Iran and North Korea for an FOBS targeting the U.S.A. mainland from the south direction, after circumnavigating the South Pole and the Southern Hemisphere is 30'000 km.

Galactic Penguin SST · Nov 17, 2020

Preparations for developing FOBS weapons are so advanced, that rockets have been launched by both Iran and North Korea on several occasions, with trajectory heading similar to that of future FOBS missiles.

Indeed, both Iranian Safir-1 and Qased SLVs have placed payloads into orbit, while heading toward the U.S. mainland approaching from the south west.

Meanwhile, North Korean Unha-3 and Kwangmyongsong SLVs have placed payloads into orbit while approaching the U.S. mainland from the south east.

This might be consistent with a probable doctrine of coordinated Irano-Korean nuclear preemptive simultaneous saturation strike, conducted from multiple directions in order to defeat the U.S. missile defence system, and to maximize the probability of success.

Keeping in mind that the doctrine of first use of nuclear strike is inherent to the FOBS weapon, as then devised by the Soviet Union.

North Korea being known to currently possess only less than a hundred nuclear warheads, the addition of at least the same number of Iranian warheads in the near future would be necessary for any preemptive thermonuclear carpet bombing of the U.S.A. mainland to be successful.

https://archive.is/DDLCF/cec12e8f979619359880069b717879a3e55dcfdf.jpg ; https://archive.is/DDLCF/2da8410f981a8d132c518f7b31cf9bd1b606fc5c/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201117131556/https://i.imgur.com/i5ehkXg.jpg
▲ 1. Preparations for developing FOBS weapons are so advanced, that rockets have been launched by both Iran and North Korea on several occasions, with trajectory heading similar to that of a future FOBS missile.

Galactic Penguin SST · Nov 21, 2020

Timetable Of The Current Inter-Korean Space Race

The coming inter-Korean space race is only paralleled in intensity by the 1960s U.S.-Soviet space race.

More sleepless nights are to be expected, reminding us of our younger age during the Cold War era!

Similarly, the aim is to secure supremacy, this time not over the world but over the Korean peninsula, by demonstrating superior technological prowess.

The timetable is only a tentative and difficult reconstruction to be taken with caution.

Please note that original schedule as published back in 2012 has been severely delayed, with especially the 4 bitter years of Trump legacy and the North Korean self-imposed moratorium on space launch from 2017 to 2020.

Also, South Korea who is only racing behind North Korea while trying to desperately catch up, has also slowed down due to laziness, as Pyongyang is the one who set the pace in this Inter-Korean Space Race!

Launch date	Unha-9 SLV	KSLV-II SLV
February 2021	Maiden launch	Maiden launch 1.5 tons dummy payload
2022		Second launch 200 kg satellite
2024	North Korea's first manned orbital flight @220 km altitude orbit	Third launch
2024	North Korea's first GEO satellite
2025	North Korea's first spacewalk @220 km altitude orbit
2025	North Korea's Lunar Exploration Program First lunar orbiter
2026	North Korea's Lunar Exploration Program First lunar lander	Fourth launch
2027		Fifth launch
2030		Sixth launch South Korea's Lunar Exploration Program First 830 kg lunar probe

http://web.archive.org/web/20201118094219/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200704003200320 ; https://archive.is/ZhbuW
http://web.archive.org/web/20191012192928/http://www.tongilnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=101028 ; http://archive.is/f5FAu
http://web.archive.org/web/20181028151902/http://www.jajusibo.com/sub_read.html?uid=29662&section=sc38 ; https://archive.vn/0Te62

https://archive.vn/OvBUF/5fdf8ee766db5db2f7218da19308a5aa37c182f1.jpg ; https://archive.vn/OvBUF/f590bba848f7c7e5a0eaaef872d70c73c5268ff0/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20191006202452/https://i.imgur.com/1hLylwc.jpg
▲ 1. Lunar gravity assist used to place North Korea's satellite into the GEO belt.

[China's best pupil: Part9] North Korea's Unha-9 Space Launcher

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