N. Korea satellite appears dead: scientist

[ahfatzia]

North Korean rocket Unha-3, carrying the satellite Kwangmyongsong-3, lifts off from its launching pad in North Pyongan province in North Korea


A satellite launched with fanfare last week by a defiant North Korea appears to be dead as no signal can be detected, a US-based astrophysicist who monitors spaceflights said Monday.

The United States and its Asian allies have acknowledged that North Korea succeeded Wednesday in putting an object into orbit that the communist state said was observing the Earth and airing patriotic songs.

Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics said that the satellite was clearly in orbit but that no songs could be heard.

"To the best of our knowledge, the satellite isn't operating," he said.

"It's definitely up there and it's whizzing around, but it's just not feeling very well."

McDowell said it was unclear whether the satellite -- called the Kwangmyongsong-3 -- worked initially and that it remained possible that it was transmitting at a level too faint for detection.

But in another sign of trouble, McDowell said that the satellite was fluctuating in brightness. That means that the sun is shining at different angles and the satellite is not pointing down at the Earth as it should.

Even if not functioning, the satellite remains in orbit. The commercial site LIVE REAL TIME SATELLITE TRACKING AND PREDICTIONS on Monday tracked the satellite as orbiting at least 505 kilometers (314 miles) above Earth, in line with North Korean statements.

"These things are hard to calculate, but roughly speaking, an object of that density at that height is going to stay up for a few years," McDowell said.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency last week quoted a scientist saying that the technology was "flawless" and that the satellite was broadcasting "Song of General Kim Il-Sung" and "Song of General Kim Jong-Il," references to the state's first two leaders.

The launch came days before the anniversary of Kim Jong-Il's death. His young son, Kim Jong-Un, succeeded him as leader of the regime, which conceded that an attempted launch in April malfunctioned.

The United States, South Korea and Japan all condemned the latest launch. Officials feared it was a veiled test for a long-range ballistic missile.

Pentagon spokesman George Little said that the United States was "still assessing" the North Korean object and that he was unaware of any danger posed.

N. Korea satellite appears dead: scientist | Bangkok Post: news

 

[Vassnti]

The state-run Korean Central News Agency last week quoted a scientist saying that the technology was "flawless" and that the satellite was broadcasting "Song of General Kim Il-Sung" and "Song of General Kim Jong-Il," references to the state's first two leaders.

Are they kidding 1.3 billion for a satellite that broadcasts propoganda music?

Hong Kong (CNN) -- While only the highest echelons of North Korea's opaque leadership will know the full financial cost of Wednesday's launch, South Korea's government estimates Pyongyang spent $1.3 billion on its rocket program this year.

The two rockets launched this year -- this week's mission and a failed attempt in April -- cost $600 million, while the launch site itself is estimated at $400 million. Other related facilities add another $300 million, according to an official from South Korea's Ministry of Unification. "This is equivalent to acquiring 4.6 million tons of corn," the official said. "If this was used for solving the food shortage issue, North Koreans would not have to worry about food for four to five years."

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

wasted money, time and resources.....

very strange regime, in Pyongyong. Never understand what's going on in their minds and what calculations they are doing before making these decisions.

meanwhile South Korea is a rapidly industrializing and developing country

 

[ahfatzia]

Whether the satellite is in working condition or not, North Korea still has the ability to carry a payload into the orbit.

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

waste of money

 

[acid rain]

oh no!! if true, a bunch of NK space engineers and scientists will most probably lined up and shot.

 

[NiceGuy]

Maybe They just wanna test their missile technology

 

[SHAMK9]

they obviously tested their long range missile technology.

 

[KingMamba]

They sent an empty box up there to test their missile tech, it is so damn obvious.

 

[oct605032048]

Dead or not it's something up in the orbit. The South K. can do nothing but bugging the Russians for help.

P.S. Maybe also dig up the seabed to get some leftovers of the North Korea's rocket to see if they can reverse-engineer it.

 

[Globenim]

I would suggest it is just desperate excuses for calling the successful satellite launch a "failure" and revive the usual "threat" propaganda again hinting at missile tech tests.

 

[anon45]

I would suggest it is just desperate excuses for calling the successful satellite launch a "failure" and revive the usual "threat" propaganda again hinting at missile tech tests.

The scientist didn't sound particularly desperate.

 

[hunter_hunted]

Or that satellite was just a decoy or mere show piece, actually it was the rocket test which was important for them.

 

[KingMamba]

I would suggest it is just desperate excuses for calling the successful satellite launch a "failure" and revive the usual "threat" propaganda again hinting at missile tech tests.

If you Chinese were not so insecure in having another democratic country on your borders there would be no "North Korean threat". We would smash them into oblivion within a couple of weeks and unite the peninsula. The North Koreans are becoming more of a liability for you guys than an asset. How long will you continue to prop them up??

The scientist didn't sound particularly desperate.

Their little tin box is just for show.

 

[Kolaps]

If you Chinese were not so insecure in having another democratic country on your borders there would be no "North Korean threat". We would smash them into oblivion within a couple of weeks and unite the peninsula. The North Koreans are becoming more of a liability for you guys than an asset. How long will you continue to prop them up??

Actually many people in China hate North Korea. As China government is multiple times suggesting North Korea to take a reform and make a good relationship with South Korea. Every time there were improvement, another set back is happened. From all I know, mainland China have non-interfering on other country domestic affair, so they have limited choice. At least they able to convinced Myanmar and Cuba to change.

Now the problem is.....Will US betray and backstab China goodwill and trust? Like designing Myanmar as US proxy to encircle China today, after so much effort from China to normalize their relationship to US and improve the economy of their people.