Was North Korea Satellite Launch a Failure?

Satellite, Last Stage of Rocket Wound Up in the Pacific

by Jason Ditz, April 05, 2009

After weeks of international bickering, North Korea attempted to launch its satellite today. According to experts, the tracking data shows that the launch was a failure, with the satellite payload and the missile both landing in the sea.

NORAD echoed those comments, saying the payload landed in the Pacific Ocean. North Korea, on the other hand, claimed “great satisfaction” at what it termed a successful launch.

Despite the apparent failure, the launch did go farther than any previous North Korean test launch, and remains significant in that the first two stages of the rocket were successful. Missile Expert Ted Postel said this showed North Korea “has the potential to provide the enabling technology to build larger and longer-range ballistic missiles,” though “this by itself does not indicate an imminent ICBM threat from North Korea.”

Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz