S. Korea to launch first homegrown spy satellite atop SpaceX rocket in 2023
By Kang Yoon-seung and Song Sang-ho
SEOUL, April 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to launch its first homegrown spy satellite in 2023 atop a rocket from U.S. commercial space firm SpaceX under a project to place five such satellites into orbit by 2025, Seoul officials said Sunday.
The state-run Korea Aerospace Research Institute and Agency for Defense Development have signed contracts with the firm to use its SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for the first 800-kilogram satellite launch in the U.S. in 2023 and for the remainder by the target year, according to the officials.
In 2017, Seoul kicked off the acquisition project -- worth 1.2 trillion won (US$970 million) -- in earnest, to bolster reconnaissance capabilities and reduce its reliance on foreign intelligence sources.
The acquisition of military satellites has been a key requirement for South Korea, as it has been pushing to retake wartime operational control from the U.S. to lead the allies' combined forces.
Under the defense project, Seoul plans to run four synthetic aperture radar ones, which use radio waves and an electro-optical infrared version, according to officials.
Once those satellites go into service, they are expected to bolster South Korea's overall defense system, including its capabilities to monitor and track North Korea's military movements.
In a separate move, South Korea also successfully test-fired a solid-fuel space rocket in late March. The space rocket is designed to put a small satellite into a low Earth orbit for surveillance operations.
The military launched its first communication satellite, the Anasis-II, in 2020 atop the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as well.

Shown in this undated image provided by the Agency for Defense Development is the concept of the reconnaissance satellite system. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
BTS' Jimin to pre-release track on his first solo album
-
U.S. B-1B strategic bomber returns to S. Korea as N.K. fires missile
-
(LEAD) BTS' J-Hope ranks No. 60 on Billboard Hot 100 with 'on the street'
-
(URGENT) N. Korean leader Kim Jong-un calls for completing readiness for nuclear attack against enemies: KCNA
-
Leaders of ruling, main opposition parties agree to cooperate on livelihood issues
-
Defense ministry sets out to normalize military intelligence-sharing deal with Japan
-
(LEAD) S. Korea to set up world's No. 1 semiconductor cluster in Seoul metropolitan area
-
BTS' Jimin to pre-release track on his first solo album
-
Opposition party denounces Yoon-Kishida summit as 'shameful submission to Japan'
-
(LEAD) Political divide intensifies in S. Korea over Yoon-Kishida summit
-
Major N. Korean websites offline as of Tuesday morning
-
(LEAD) S. Korea fully restores bilateral military information-sharing pact with Japan
-
American admits to train graffiti-related charges but calls himself artist
-
Actor Yoo Ah-in to appear for questioning Friday over alleged drug use
-
Apple launches Apple Pay in S. Korea