[Comprehensive] Launch of Korea's First Dedicated Military Communication Satellite... Successful Reception

Launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Kennedy Space Center, USA

First successful reception with France Satellite Operations Center (TSOC) about 18 minutes later

On the afternoon of the 20th (local time in the United States), the military's independent communication satellite ANASIS-II is preparing for launch. (Photo by Defense Acquisition Program Administration)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] South Korea's first dedicated military communications satellite, 'Anasis 2,' was successfully launched. With this, our military has become the 10th country in the world to secure a dedicated military satellite.

On the 21st, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced, "Anasis 2 was successfully launched at 5:30 p.m. on the 20th (local time in the U.S.) from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA."

About 32 minutes after launch, Anasis 2 separated normally from the Falcon 9 launch vehicle at an altitude of approximately 630 km, and at 7:08 a.m., it successfully received its first signal from the Toulouse Satellite Operations Center (TSOC) in France. TSOC is a satellite control center located in Toulouse, France. This organization monitors the satellite’s status and analyzes received information during the initial orbit operations phase (LEOP) after launch until it reaches its target orbit.

The satellite manufacturer, Airbus of France, plans to continuously monitor the overall status of Anasis 2, including its main body, through communication with ground stations and verify whether the satellite settles into its target orbit. After launch, Anasis 2 will deploy its antennas and solar panels to check power supply and operational capability necessary for its mission. Then, over about two weeks, it will perform intermediate orbit adjustments to finally position itself in a geostationary orbit at an altitude of 36,000 km. After settling into geostationary orbit, the satellite’s performance will be verified for approximately one month.

Anasis 2 was launched as an offset trade agreement with Lockheed Martin, which South Korea signed when introducing the F-35A stealth fighter jet. Airbus based the satellite on its 'Eurostar E3000' platform. Anasis 2 can perform its mission in geostationary orbit 36,000 km above the Korean Peninsula using its own propulsion system.

Currently, the South Korean military has established its communication system using the dual-use satellite 'Mugunghwa 5,' but since it is not exclusively military, it is vulnerable to enemy jamming attacks. If the existing dual-use satellite is jammed by the enemy, the military must rely on the U.S. military’s satellite communication network.

A military official said, "Securing the first dedicated military satellite is also related to acquiring key capabilities for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON)." He added, "The military plans to gradually secure reconnaissance satellites and early warning satellites in the future, and it is expected that the South Korean military’s ability to conduct independent operations will improve."

Meanwhile, SpaceX, which launched Anasis 2, was founded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and succeeded in launching the manned spacecraft 'Crew Dragon' for the first time as a private company on May 30. The first stage booster B1058 of the Falcon 9 rocket used in this launch was previously used to transport the Crew Dragon to the International Space Station (ISS) and was recovered from the Atlantic Ocean for reuse preparation.

SpaceX has launched rockets 12 times this year, but this is the first time it has launched a satellite ordered by a customer. In the previous 11 launches, SpaceX launched its own Starlink communication satellites and U.S. Space Force dedicated satellites, and transported NASA astronauts to the ISS.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.