Alert: North Korea opens five hour launch window for Taepodong-2 test

[Smurf-Herder]

Looks like they could launch within the next hour or so, according to reporters on the ground, on TV.

North Korea starts radar to track rocket - Yonhap

SEOUL, April 5 (Reuters) - North Korea has removed the cover from the top of a long-range rocket and started a radar needed to track its flight, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said on Sunday in an unsourced report, indicating a launch is imminent.

The United States, South Korea and Japan have said they would see the launch as a test of the North's Taepodong-2 missile, which is designed to fly as far as Alaska.

http://www.reuters.com/article/usDollarRpt/idUSSEO7113320090405

[Reality4u]

Looks like they could launch within the next hour or so, according to reporters on the ground, on TV.

North Korea starts radar to track rocket - Yonhap

SEOUL, April 5 (Reuters) - North Korea has removed the cover from the top of a long-range rocket and started a radar needed to track its flight, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said on Sunday in an unsourced report, indicating a launch is imminent.

The United States, South Korea and Japan have said they would see the launch as a test of the North's Taepodong-2 missile, which is designed to fly as far as Alaska.

http://www.reuters.com/article/usDollarRpt/idUSSEO7113320090405

We should shoot it out of the sky, just for shitz and giggles.

[Smurf-Herder]

We should shoot it out of the sky, just for shitz and giggles.

They've just lanched!

It's now ready for the second stage to drop off and fire the third stage, out in the Pacific past Japan.

I just heard it on the TV.

[Smurf-Herder]

North Korea Launches Long-Range Rocket

Breaking News - 4:02am UK, Sunday April 05, 2009

North Korea has launched a long-range missile that has passed over Japan.

Both the US State Department and the Japanese government confirmed the launch had taken place.

"We have had a launch. I don't know the type of missile," said US State Department spokesman Fred Lash.

Japanese broadcaster NHK said there were no reports of any debris falling on Japan.

According to local reports, wreckage from the first stage of the rocket fell in the Pacific Ocean.

International pressure had mounted in recent days to halt the launch at Musudan-ri on the north-east coast.

North Korea says its intentions are peaceful and it was launching an "experimental communications satellite".

But the US and North Korea's neighbours believe it is a cover for testing the regime's long-range missile technology in defiance of UN resolutions.

The long-range rocket is capable of hitting the US.

Before the blast-off, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il appeared to be in Pyongyang.

His last reported public appearance was on March 28 when he visited machinery plants in South and North Pyongan provinces.

More follows...

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/North-Korea-Launches-Long-Range-Rocket-US-State-Department-Says/Article/200904115255929?lpos=World_News_First_World_News_A rticle_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15255929_North_Korea_Launches_Long-Range_Rocket%2C_US_State_Department_Says

[The_Limit]

I heard on the news that it was indeed a communications satellite. Another interesting tidbit I heard from an analyst was that not even South Korea has ever put such a device into space.

[Smurf-Herder]

I heard on the news that it was indeed a communications satellite. Another interesting tidbit I heard from an analyst was that not even South Korea has ever put such a device into space.

If they can put it up in space, you also have the capability to bring it down in California. I believe that missile was actually what experts are referring to as the Taepodong-3. An updated version of the Taepodong-2 missile that failed in 2006; this one capable of reaching the west coast of the continental US.

Also:

Korean Space Launch Vehicle Unveiled

October 20, 2008

http://www.fareastgizmos.com/entry_images/1008/20/korean_rocket-thumb-450x299.jpg

Korea’s first Space Launch Vehicle- KSLV-1 that will carry a satellite into orbit has been unveiled at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province. Space launch vehicle KSLV-1 consists of the upper part, which will be loaded with Science and Technology Satellite, and the lower part carry KSLV-1 from ground into space after launch. The 7.7m-high upper part was completed recently by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute with its own technology. The 25.8 m-high lower parts will be made in Russia and imported around January next year. The KSLV-1 is identical with the vehicle that will be launched into space next year in terms of design and performance.

The KSLV-1 was to be launched at the end of this year, but the launch has been postponed due to delays in technical cooperation with Russia and in the supply of rocket components. Now KSLV-1 will be launched during the second quarter, between April and June, next year.

http://www.fareastgizmos.com/transport/korean_space_launch_vehicle_unveiled.php

The North Koreans just beat them to it.

[mwillman]

Tell me are you guys shaking in your boots.

Personally, I dont think North Korea has a suicide wish nor do I think they are stupid enough to do something like fire a missile at Japan or the United states.

That would pretty much open them up for retaliation and like Yamamoto said when they launched Pearl Harbor "we are awakening a sleeping giant". We have the largest military in the world and we control the worlds seas and skies.

All this fear mongering is only a tactic to keep people afraid which helps the Military Industrial Complex feeding from the american tit.

[Smurf-Herder]

Tell me are you guys shaking in your boots.

Personally, I dont think North Korea has a suicide wish nor do I think they are stupid enough to do something like fire a missile at Japan or the United states.

That would pretty much open them up for retaliation and like Yamamoto said when they launched Pearl Harbor "we are awakening a sleeping giant". We have the largest military in the world and we control the worlds seas and skies.

All this fear mongering is only a tactic to keep people afraid which helps the Military Industrial Complex feeding from the american tit.

Don't forget - what they can build they can sell.

And the more countries that have this technology, the more chance there is of someone using it, whether per an agenda or through miscalculation.

[The_Limit]

Looks like the media is reporting the missile test failed.

[Smurf-Herder]

Looks like the media is reporting the missile test failed.

Wow! :reading:

You're right. I just checked out the Internet.

North Korea Launches Rocket

"The rocket flew successfully for about 13 minutes Sunday morning but plunged into the Pacific Ocean as the second of its three stages was firing, officials in Japan, South Korea and the U.S. said.

The rocket was on course to an area in the ocean east of Japan where North Korea expected the second stage to fall. But its flight ended 372 miles before reaching that area."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123889854918290025.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

I'm really surprised - Iran has technicians there and they successfully launched a satellite that achieved an orbit for a brief time. They share all their missile and nuke tech. It just must mean the Iranians have better quality control.

Cool! :thumbsup:

It was a political gambit that backfired on Kim.

Maybe he needs some Viagra for his rocket ... :lmao2:

[ROdger Right]

In a couple days the nk papers will say kim defies the world and succesfully launches a satelite in orbit

[Smurf-Herder]

In a couple days the nk papers will say kim defies the world and succesfully launches a satelite in orbit

They're already celebrating - telling their people the satellite is in orbit, beaming Kim's favorite songs back to earth. A great achievement for North Korean technology.

What do they know? They're only allowed to have a radio, tuned to the government station playing 24 hours a day.

[Smurf-Herder]

TEXT-N.Korea says it successfully launched satellite

SEOUL, April 5 (Reuters) - Following is a full text of the English-language report on North Korea's KCNA news agency on Sunday saying the communist state had successfully put a satellite into orbit:

"Scientists and technicians of the DPRK (North Korea) have succeeded in putting satellite Kwangmyongsong-2, an experimental communications satellite, into orbit by means of carrier rocket Unha-2 under the state's long-term plan for the development of outer space.

"Unha-2, which was launched at the Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground in Hwadae County, North Hamgyong Province at 11:20 (0220 GMT) on April 5, accurately put Kwangmyongsong-2 into its orbit at 11:29:02, nine minutes and two seconds after its launch.

"The satellite is going round the earth along its elliptic orbit at the angle of inclination of 40.6 degrees at 490 km perigee and 1,426 km apogee. Its cycle is 104 minutes and 12 seconds.

"Mounted on the satellite are necessary measuring devices and communications apparatuses.

"The satellite is going round on its routine orbit.

"It is sending to the earth the melodies of the immortal revolutionary paeans 'Song of General Kim Il-sung' and 'Song of General Kim Jong-il' and measured information at 470 MHz. By the use of the satellite the relay communications is now underway by UHF frequency band.

"The satellite is of decisive significance in promoting the scientific researches into the peaceful use of outer space and solving scientific and technological problems for the launch of practical satellites in the future.

"Carrier rocket Unha-2 has three stages.

"The carrier rocket and the satellite developed by the indigenous wisdom and technology are the shining results gained in the efforts to develop the nation's space science and technology on a higher level.

"The successful satellite launch is symbolic of the leaping advance made in the nation's space science and technology was conducted against the background of the stirring period when a high-pitched drive for bringing about a fresh great revolutionary surge is under way throughout the country to open the gate to a great prosperous and powerful nation without fail by 2012, the centenary of the birth of President Kim Il-sung, under the far-reaching plan of leader Kim Jong-il.

"This is powerfully encouraging the Korean people all out in the general advance."

http://uk.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUKSEO88417