[quote]By Jim Miklaszewski and Alan Boyle, NBC News
The object that North Korea sent into space early Thursday appears to be “tumbling out of control” as it orbits the earth, U.S. officials told NBC News.
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The officials said that it is indeed some kind of space vehicle but they still haven’t been able to determine exactly what the satellite is supposed to do.
In a statement, the White House said the rocket launch was a highly provocative act that threatens regional security and violates U.N. resolutions.
The United Nations Security Council on Thursday condemned the launch, calling it a "clear violation" of U.N. resolutions. A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he "deplores" the launch.
North Korea is banned from conducting missile and nuclear tests, under the terms of U.N. sanctions imposed after a series of nuclear weapons tests in 2006 and 2009.
Missile warning systems detected the launch at 7:49 p.m. ET Wednesday. North American Aerospace Defense Command officials said in a statement that the initial indications were that the first stage fell into the Yellow Sea and the second stage fell into the Philippine Sea. Japan's NHK television network said the rocket's second stage fell minutes after passing near the southern islands of Japan.
North Korea said Wednesday's launch was an attempt to place a satellite into a pole-to-pole orbit. Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency said that the rocket was fired from the Sohae Satellite Launch Center on the secretive country's west coast, and that the Kwangmyongsong weather satellite went into orbit as planned.
KCNA via Reuters
North Korean scientists work as a screen shows the Unha-3 (Milky Way 3) rocket being launched at the satellite control center in Cholsan county, North Pyongan province.
But U.S. officials say the launch was a thinly veiled attempt to test a three-stage ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead as far as the West Coast.
ANALYSIS: 'Spoiled child' North Korea snubs China
Russia added its voice to the condemnation of the launch and also called on other nations to refrain from further escalating tensions.
"The new rocket launch carried out by North Korea flaunts the opinion of the international community, including calls from the Russian side," it said.
China, North Korea's only major diplomatic ally, said officials had urged Pyongyang not to go ahead with the launch, and expressed regret that it had taken place.
Japan and South Korea voiced concern as well. "The Japanese government regards this launch as an act compromising the peace and stability of the region, including Japan," said Osamu Fujimura, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak convened an emergency meeting of his national security council.
North Korea has successfully launched a long-range rocket, defying a UN Security Council Resolution and warnings from the West. On the streets of the country's capital, there were celebrations at the announcement. But internationally, the launch has provoked widespread condemnation and threats of further sanctions. ITN's Angus Walker reports.
The liftoff came as a shock to many South Koreans because they thought it would not take place until after South Korea's presidential election on Dec. 19.
Only a day earlier, North Korea hinted that the launch time might have to be readjusted due to weather or a technical problem.
"It was a surprise in terms of the timing," Bruce Bennett, a senior defense analyst with the RAND think tank, told The Associated Press. "They had talked about postponing for a week. To recover so quickly from technical problems suggests they have gotten good at putting together a missile."
This was North Korea's fifth test launch of a long-range rocket or ballistic missile – and the second launch since North Korean leader Kim Jong Un came to power in the wake of his father’s death a year ago. Experts say none of the previous attempts was successful, although Pyongyang says otherwise.
The last rocket was launched in April but fell apart shortly after being fired.
One U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told NBC News that Kim was under pressure to launch a success.
"He knows the stakes are high either way, and it is really what he does next that matters," the official said.[/quote]
[url]http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/12/15866530-north-korean-satellite-tumbling-out-of-control-us-officials-say?lite[/url]
I giggled
[QUOTE=Mr.Dugong;38797698]Now how long before it falls.[/QUOTE]
19 hours it seems :v:
See, this is why you don't use KSP to simulate your space program.
[QUOTE=Falcqn;38807541]19 hours it seems :v:[/QUOTE]
Then we have 19 hours before Homefront
I told you guys. It's going to fall on US
[QUOTE=IliekBoxes;38807628]I told you guys. It's going to fall on US[/QUOTE]
I doubt there will be much of it left after it reenters.
well that was quick.
North Kerbal Space Program. Where every rocket part explodes spectacularly on impact.
it's strange how funny this shit is, while at the same time being a very serious issue. it might not be long until nk is able to launch missiles at the usa, and while i don't think they intend to attack us(at least not right now), nk is incredibly unstable and a bunch of missiles in an unstable area is always cause for concern.
So we have no idea what the fuck the thing does?
I'm going to take an optimist stand point for this, but if it really was just a satellite for non-war purposes, why does everyone condemn it? Wouldn't this be something to congratulate them of? There aren't that many space faring countries in this world, and North Korea throwing it's hat in is pretty awesome.
But the realist in me says it's probably a spy satellite and they're probably intending on using it to find people/sites of interest in SK.
[QUOTE=ewitwins;38807674]So we have no idea what the fuck the thing does?[/QUOTE]
It dances
[QUOTE=don818;38807702]I'm going to take an optimist stand point for this, but if it really was just a satellite for non-war purposes, why does everyone condemn it? Wouldn't this be something to congratulate them of? There aren't that many space faring countries in this world, and North Korea throwing it's hat in is pretty awesome.
But the realist in me says it's probably a spy satellite and they're probably intending on using it to find people/sites of interest in SK.[/QUOTE]
When you can't even control your people without brainwashing them into thinking their leader is an infallible son of god so that maybe they forget they're starving, satellites shouldn't be your priority.
Inside is a ton of fireworks for the great leader to observe when Christmas comes, it's just getting ready for the show.
[QUOTE=yawmwen;38807670]it's strange how funny this shit is, while at the same time being a very serious issue. it might not be long until nk is able to launch missiles at the usa, and while i don't think they intend to attack us(at least not right now), nk is incredibly unstable and a bunch of missiles in an unstable area is always cause for concern.[/QUOTE]
Don't they already have missiles that can hit Anchorage and Juneau?
Well, they got it into orbit.
Now they just need to get the whole[I] "keeping it in orbit, and under full control [/I][B]WITHOUT[/B][I] crashing into other satellites"[/I]
My rough estimate would be another decade or two until that goal is reached.
[QUOTE=don818;38807702]I'm going to take an optimist stand point for this, but if it really was just a satellite for non-war purposes, why does everyone condemn it? Wouldn't this be something to congratulate them of? There aren't that many space faring countries in this world, and North Korea throwing it's hat in is pretty awesome.
But the realist in me says it's probably a spy satellite and they're probably intending on using it to find people/sites of interest in SK.[/QUOTE]
The problem is that bottom line, NK is an enemy of well... everyone. Space tech can be easily be turned into a missle that can go across the planet. The U.S. started with ICBMs afterall.
[editline]12 December 2012[/editline]
I don't think that anyone is really concerned with this particular satellite, its just the means of getting it to orbit.
[QUOTE=don818;38807702]I'm going to take an optimist stand point for this, but if it really was just a satellite for non-war purposes, why does everyone condemn it? Wouldn't this be something to congratulate them of? There aren't that many space faring countries in this world, and North Korea throwing it's hat in is pretty awesome.
But the realist in me says it's probably a spy satellite and they're probably intending on using it to find people/sites of interest in SK.[/QUOTE]
there are really two options:
1: NK is telling the truth and it's just them trying to put shit and orbit and be cool
2: NK is testing their ability launch missiles at the usa and other long range targets.
and even if it's option number 1, nk's missile launching capabilities grow as a result. like i said before, i dont really worry much about the government, but leaving a bunch of missiles and nuclear weapons laying about in the event of the government's collapse or in the face of a few incredibly corrupt officials isn't exactly safe.
[QUOTE=ewitwins;38807674]So we have no idea what the fuck the thing does?[/QUOTE]
Original planned flight path made it seem like an imagery satellite rather than a weather satellite. Unless they were planning on using imagery for weather analysis. Just a guess though. v:v:v
Are they sure it's not simply a giant middle finger wiggling itself at the western world?
[QUOTE=DaysBefore;38807743]Don't they already have missiles that can hit Anchorage and Juneau?[/QUOTE]
supposedly i think.
it's hard to determine their missile capabilities because of how closed their society is and how incredibly unreliable nk technology seems to be sometimes.
[QUOTE=yawmwen;38807768]there are really two options:
1: NK is telling the truth and it's just them trying to put shit and orbit and be cool
2: NK is testing their ability launch missiles at the usa and other long range targets.
and even if it's option number 1, nk's missile launching capabilities grow as a result. like i said before, i dont really worry much about the government, but leaving a bunch of missiles and nuclear weapons laying about in the event of the government's collapse or in the face of a few incredibly corrupt officials isn't exactly safe.[/QUOTE]
It's a real satellite. Likely a test to see if they can put something in orbit. After that, they need to experiment with blunt body physics and reentry vehicles. Once they get that down, all they have to do is make a nuke small enough to fit inside a warhead, and they got an ICBM that can strike anyone. If you can get something into orbit, you can get something into sub-orbit, and you can strike anything on the planet.
[quote]The United Nations Security Council on Thursday condemned the launch, calling it a "clear violation" of U.N. resolutions. A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he "deplores" the launch.[/quote]
"Dear leader what should I do with this one?"
"Put it with the rest of the angry letters and bring me another traitor, that last fireworks show was wonderful"
[QUOTE=don818;38807702]I'm going to take an optimist stand point for this, but if it really was just a satellite for non-war purposes, why does everyone condemn it? Wouldn't this be something to congratulate them of? There aren't that many space faring countries in this world, and North Korea throwing it's hat in is pretty awesome.
But the realist in me says it's probably a spy satellite and they're probably intending on using it to find people/sites of interest in SK.[/QUOTE]
Because while the satelite launch is nice and okay, the launch vessel [I]could [/I]be used as an ICBM. That is where the issue comes from.
[editline]12th December 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=l33tkill;38807769]Original planned flight path made it seem like an imagery satellite rather than a weather satellite. Unless they were planning on using imagery for weather analysis. Just a guess though. v:v:v[/QUOTE]
Apparently the media were invited to look at it before they failed last time, assuming its the same satellite (they claimed it was) then it has a HD camera on it.
It's a feature
[QUOTE=Jsm;38807877]Because while the satelite launch is nice and okay, the launch vessel [I]could [/I]be used as an ICBM. That is where the issue comes from.
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=LagMonster!!!!;38807750]The problem is that bottom line, NK is an enemy of well... everyone. Space tech can be easily be turned into a missle that can go across the planet. The U.S. started with ICBMs afterall.
[editline]12 December 2012[/editline]
I don't think that anyone is really concerned with this particular satellite, its just the means of getting it to orbit.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=yawmwen;38807768]there are really two options:
1: NK is telling the truth and it's just them trying to put shit and orbit and be cool
2: NK is testing their ability launch missiles at the usa and other long range targets.
and even if it's option number 1, nk's missile launching capabilities grow as a result. like i said before, i dont really worry much about the government, but leaving a bunch of missiles and nuclear weapons laying about in the event of the government's collapse or in the face of a few incredibly corrupt officials isn't exactly safe.[/QUOTE]
[video=youtube;KMrugIQlzOk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMrugIQlzOk[/video]
[sp]it shoots down ballistic missiles[/sp]
Is anyone else concerned that NKorea is just going to be adding to the colossal volume of floating space junk? I know that at this point, one satellite or the parts it would contribute in event of disintegration is basically a drop in the bucket compared to what's already out there, but it's not like the problem gets smaller on its own when you have amateurs lobbing their crap up there,
I will give them a gold sticker for effort.
[quote]North Korea is banned from conducting missile and nuclear tests, under the terms of U.N. sanctions[/quote]
North Korea's response (And rightfully so, really): Oooooohh I'm shaking in my boots
How pointless, it's not like the UN is going to do anything, or has any cards under the table it can play at this point
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