Space and Astronomy Atlas

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Launch Vehicles

Unha

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North Korea's satellite launch vehicle, closely related to the country's long-range ballistic missile program, which achieved its first confirmed orbital insertion in December 2012 with the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite, making North Korea the tenth nation to reach orbit with an indigenous rocket, though most independent trackers have questioned whether its satellites ever functioned.

Facts
Vehicle Class
Light-lift expendable launch vehicle 1
Manufacturer
National Aerospace Development Administration 1
First Flight Date
2012-12-12 1
Date of its first confirmed successful orbital insertion, Unha-3 carrying Kwangmyongsong-3 unit 2; several earlier launch attempts from 1998 onward failed to reach orbit.
Status
Operational at a very low flight rate, closely tied to North Korea's ballistic missile program and subject to international sanctions. 1
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