Some details regarding the manned multi-seaters orbital launcher Unha-X/Safir-3D:
New Hints
After a week-end of endless waiting, as expected, hinted by the previous days
Kim Jong Un's Climb on Mt Paektu, finally the first ever proof of concept has been revealed officially by North Korea. In the latest 18th October 2019 youtube video, a space launcher is illustrated with a first stage showing 4 rocket engines. By symmetry the total can therefore be numbered to 8 main engines.
The flame in the central part is longer and of larger diameter than the lateral ones, indicating a clusters of engines or less likelly, more powerful ones.
https://archive.fo/eoqB7/97391dd9a7ba8252b2d00e359add5c1acc2c6104.jpg ; https://archive.fo/eoqB7/491dfd5dda6b679abe8c2b270020a857ddabb92a/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20191020201549/https://i.imgur.com/e5ts4RT.jpg ;
"5점", [소개편집물] 최우등생들은 말한다 평천구역 부흥초급중학교 [Introduction edit] Top class students Pyongchon District Elementary and Middle School [介绍编辑]一流的学生说平川地区复兴中小学, 조선중앙TV 1.46K subscribers , 109 views •Oct 18, 2019, https://youtu.be/Gzv19dSQYS0?t=56 ; T=56s / 9m44s
▲ 1. The Unha-X launcher as hinted in a 18th October 2019 video.
Although the rocket does not show any strap-on booster, but a clusters of rocket tanks similar to the Saturn-IB, the real design should resemble that of the Chinese CZ-2F.
But the reference to the Saturn-IB means that it is powered by eight main engines, and that it is supporting the manned space program.
The S-IB stage was built by the Chrysler corporation at the Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans.[5] It was powered by eight Rocketdyne H-1 rocket engines burning RP-1 fuel with liquid oxygen (LOX). Eight Redstone tanks (four holding fuel and four holding LOX) were clustered around a Jupiter rocket LOX tank. The four outboard engines were mounted on gimbals, allowing them to be steered to control the rocket. Eight fins surrounding the base thrust structure provided aerodynamic stability and control.
https://archive.fo/1VFR8/4dd200d9b248afa5f5aefb4871bfac2fe418feda.png ; https://archive.fo/1VFR8/f2eda974c86e157bb5611b4fb105b47a5b6d1226/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20191020210429/https://i.imgur.com/KGZ8GE7.png
▲ 2. Saturn-IB's eight main engines.
And the real Unha-X design:
https://archive.fo/YtfGw/5ef245dc8eb820893b268a4ab1b5e966b69bb9d0.jpg ; https://archive.fo/YtfGw/70e7d0952be36848092c078fbe2e83c3f884476d/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20191006203918/https://i.imgur.com/PpeqDJq.jpg
▲ 3. The Unha-X launcher with the dual/three seaters spacecraft.
You are mixing two things up “rocket flight” and “space flight”. Those guys in 1465 and 1590 didn’t make it to space (about 100km up) in their solid fuel rockets.
BTW mechanical liquid-fueled rocket engines (like the ones powering your CZ-5) are a Western invention....
The history of rocketry starts with the discovery of solid propellant. It is first invented in China, then spread in East Asia, including today's Korea, Laos, Siam, Burma, Indochina. Stolen by the Mongolian hordes it would thereafter be spread to the Mongolian Empire's splinters after its demise. All this westward. Last comes the Europeans.
Note that in this regard, we see that Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia could emerge, maybe under an unified geopolitical entity, as the not so surprising next spacefaring great power at the 5th place!
Strong claims by North Korea as the leader in term of historical milestones. In fact it even claims to be the first one, but without providing further evidences!
Next space launch
In a modus operandi that now seems familiar to the GEOINT/OSINT analysts, the official North Korean KCNA and Uriminzokkiri websites have published on Wednesday 23rd October 2019, more than fourteen years later, nearly the same list of historical claimed milestones, and first posted on 30th May 2005.
And that previous occurrence was just one year before the 5th July 2006 maiden flight, at 05:01 AM Pyongyang Time, of the new Unha-1 satellite carrier, known as Simorgh in Persian or Safir-2.
Therefore it is highly expected that in the coming future, NADA will test its newest satellite carrier, known as the Unha-9. The second stage having already been tested under the guise of the Hwasong-15 ICBM in December 2017.
Launch date (Pyongyang) | Payload | Launch vehicle
31 AUG 1998 | Kwangmyongsong-1 | Paektusan-1
05 JUL 2006 | Kwangmyongsong-2-1 | Unha-1
05 APR 2009 | Kwangmyongsong-2-2 | Unha-2
13 APR 2012 | Kwangmyongsong-3-1 | Unha-3
12 DEC 2012 | Kwangmyongsong-3-2 | Unha-3
07 FEB 2016 | Kwangmyongsong-4 | KWANGMYONGSONG (Unha-4)
XX XXX 20XX | Kwangmyongsong-5 | Unha-9
https://archive.fo/CdpFb/9d4776bce3315c761a29bdc897e945871e3af058.jpg ; https://archive.fo/CdpFb/78b07febfc759a855b1ccf2c55ece7aa9d22086d/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20191023224733/https://i.imgur.com/JpOMGnZ.jpg
▲ 4. CGI illustration of an Unha-9 SLV at Sohae SLC LC-1.
https://archive.fo/8MUj0/5746e1eeabd68c89d76db3e1acc6dd6bb97af820.jpg ; https://archive.fo/8MUj0/a7a893627ed956335390a65d15620af2fb05c961/scr.png ; https://defence.pk/pdf/attachments/...2/?temp_hash=d0be8791dce9b7edc2f96aa6827de31c
▲ 5. Artistic representation of the North Korean Unha launchers family, 2019.
The first KCNA version published on 30th May 2005:
World's First Rocket Made in Korea
Pyongyang, May 30 (KCNA) -- "Rocket" weapons were made and used by Korea already in the period of Koguryo (B.C. 277-A.D. 668). The first "rocket" was very simple but its principle is similar with that of modern one.
A jet-propelled weapon called Kwanghwi demonstrated its might in a battle near the castle in Mt. Pukhan in 661.
People of Koryo (918-1392) made a "rocket" called Hwajon.
Hwajon was 726 millimeters long and its arrowhead 90 millimeters long. The arrow was shot by lighting the cartridge.
According to a historical record, Koryo manufactured lots of Hwajon around 1127 and deployed them in vantage points for national defence.
On the basis of arrows with fire wicks made in the period of the three kingdoms, Koreans developed Singijon, the origin of multistage rocket, in the early 15th century.
There were three kinds of Singijon according to their sizes, types and powder-cartridges.
The small one was a two-stage rocket. The medium one with one more small cartridge than the small one was a three-stage rocket, while the large one with four cartridges and wings was a four-stage rocket.
Having a great firing power, they could strike far-off targets on land and big warships. The weapons were widely used during the Imjin Patriotic War (1592) against the Japanese invaders and other battles against invaders. They were also used as signal means.
They are precious historical relics showing the intelligence and patriotism of the Korean nation.
http://web.archive.org/web/20141012071251/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2005/200505/news05/31.htm
The KCNA repost of 23rd October 2019:
Singijon, Origin of Multi-stage Rocket
Pyongyang, October 23 (KCNA) -- The Korean people made a jet-propelled weapon for the first time in the world.
Kwanghwi, which had the same operating principle with rocket, came into being in the period of Koguryo (B.C. 277-A.D. 668), and Singijon, the origin of multi-stage rocket, appeared in the early 15th century.
Singijon was classified into small, medium and large one according to its size, type and structure of reaction powder-flask.
The small-sized Singijon was a kind of two-stage rocket as it could fly far to a distance by the force of gas emitted from two powder-flasks installed in the tail of an arrow.
The other two weapons equipped with more powder-flasks could fly like three-stage and four-stage rockets.
In the mid-15th century, dimensions of Singijon were standardized on a nationwide scale.
This weaponry was used in the battles of Kyongju and Haengjusan castles during the Imjin Patriotic War (1592-1598). -0-
https://archive.fo/m2OnI/41357dd1b54b90e76e8efd12fa1c26bc9b98b185.gif ; https://archive.fo/m2OnI/700073e33768f86bd1494ab43c51c66ae77d9e8c/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20191023...ew024/national proud/content/img/singizon.gif ; http://pyongyang.news-site.net/new02/new024/national proud/content/singijon.html
▲ 6. Singijon, Origin of Multi-stage Rocket
http://web.archive.org/web/20191023...zokkiri.com/index.php?ptype=igisa1&no=1181495
http://archive.fo/7Gcmq
A recap of the most important claimed milestones:
• "Rocket" weapons were used by Korea already in the period of Koguryo (B.C. 277-A.D. 668).
• Jet-propelled weapon called Kwanghwi used in the battle near the castle in Mt. Pukhan in 661.
• People of Koryo (918-1392) made a "rocket" called Hwajon.
• Koreans developed Singijon, the origin of multistage rocket, in the early 15th century.
• Koreans developed winged rockets, as the largest type of multistage rocket and made of four-stages.
• Koreans also developed Anti-Ship versions during the Imjin Patriotic War (1592).
• All these, centuries before the Europeans.
The revised list of manned spacefaring powers, by order of historical milestone and claimed legitimacy, as of October 2019:
1. A
2. A'
3. China: Wan Hu's (万虎) rocket-propelled manned winged Flying Vehicle maiden flight ended in failure, 1465 AD.
4. Korea: Jung Pyung Gu (정평구, 鄭平九) first recorded manned rocket propelled flight with a 12 km flight, 1590 AD.
5. Myanmar-Thailand-Laos-Cambodia: TBD
6. Turkey: Lagâri Hasan Çelebi successful manned rocket flight, 1633 AD.
7. Japan: world's first manned space program started in 1940. Upcoming large scale attacks with crewed gigantic stratospheric FUGO airships announced on 4th June 1945 AD.
8. India: Mysorean rockets, 18th century AD.
9. First european contender.
