KCNA on DPRK's Successful Launch of Satellite Kwangmyongsong-2

KCNA ^ | April 5. 2009

[rdl6989]

Pyongyang, April 5 (KCNA) -- Scientists and technicians of the DPRK have succeeded in putting satellite Kwangmyongsong-2, an experimental communications satellite, into orbit by means of carrier rocket Unha-2 under the state 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 on April 5, Juche 98 (2009), 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 s

[MuttTheHoople]

Ironic thing is, KCNA is a more credible news service than our MSM.

[mkjessup]

Good Morning AiT!

I seldom post log data from signals I've picked up but I did keep some notes in this instance, I'll post them right here on FR, this will be picked up by Google inside of a day:

First some general information:

470 - 476 MHz

Covers the following:

# television channel 14
# Land mobile within 50 miles of the following metro areas:

* Boston, MA
* Chicago, IL
* Los Angeles, CA
* Miami, FL
* New York/N.E. NJ
* Pittsburgh, PA


In addition, 470 - 476 mhz includes:

# Biomedical telemetry devices

NOT generally utilized for aerospace telemetry and/or satellite transmissions, AFAIK.

--------------------------------

470 mhz was monitored continuously:

Start - 2200 hrs Eastern Time 05 April 2009
End - 0700 hrs Eastern Time 06 April 2009

No detectable consistent signals monitored, mostly static with occasional SSB interruptions, presumed to be Ham radio operators or other transmitters.

No musical or voice communications noted.

Equipment used:

Hallicrafters SX-42 Receiver
MaxRad BMUF4525 Antenna

This is a picture of the receiver, this isn't the actual receiver that belonged to my Dad, but the one I'm using is pretty much identical in appearance. It's an oldie but a goodie.



I can state with virtual certainty that IF there were a North Korean satellite emitting a signal at 470 mhz, I would have picked it up.

There's nothing up there.

[GoDuke]

“If I were a US-Forces-in-Japan airman stationed in the US Misawa AB in northern Japan...”

Haven’t thought about that place in a long time. (I was there in ‘93.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Yeah, THATS WHAT IM TALKIN' ABOUT!

Excellent work. It deserves an FR thread of its own.

I can back it up with my own vignettes as well as translations of other reports from Japanese and other press which corroborates your findings.

Free Republic can be known as a place which helped crack the mystery of whether North Koreans even have a satellite up in the first place, as they claim (which you and I know based on your steady monitoring in order to catch it once at least during its 1 hour 20 minute "orbit" of the earth, with a fine rig.) is just a North Korean fabrication in front of the whole world. ;-)

[AmericanInTokyo]

It did not go over them, but it came close and I am sure with binoculars or a good telescope one could have seen that Taepodong near our US Air Base there.

[jersey117]

I believe you'd find almost EVERYONE of the DPNK citizens believes EVERYTHING that comes from their only source of news.

Kind of like....here?

[rdl6989]

Thanks so much for this information! This is post of the year material!

[mkjessup]

Thanks so much for this information! This is post of the year material!

I appreciate the kind words but I wouldn't go quite that far FRiend, if ANY posts are potential 'posts of the year', it would be the posts generated by AiT, TigerLikesRooster (among many others), who have been FR's most reliable sources regarding North Korea and other happenings in the region.

I've done nothing more than what countless numbers of SWL's (Short Wave Listeners), DX'ers, Ham operators do all the time, basically I sat on my rump and tuned to either side of 470 mhz over roughly a 9 hour span of time. No big deal, I would be doing that anyhow on any number of frequencies.

I just enjoy listening to short wave and world radio broadcasts in general, the guys who deserve the REAL kudos are those Ham operators who provide invaluable help and assistance in times of emergency, they seldom get the credit they deserve, so here's my modest 'shout out' to all of 'em.

As for Comrade Chia Pet?

He's got competition now: