[amsat-bb] Re: North Korean Polar weather satellite

[Martyn Williams]

Andy,

I obtained the launch notification and posted it last week. Here are
the details we know so far:

http://www.northkoreatech.org/2012/03/20/itu-confirms-dprk-satellite-launch-plans/
http://www.northkoreatech.org/2012/03/21/exclusive-north-koreas-expected-rocket-trajectory/

Today the state news agency added a little more information:

http://www.northkoreatech.org/2012/03/28/more-on-north-koreas-satellite-mission/

But that might be all we get.

In 2009 a "satellite launch" never produced a satellite and there is
considerable skepticism from the international community that this is
anything more than a long-range missile test.

In 2009 the North Koreans stated "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" and didn't get any more technical than that. Like the
satellite, the songs were never detected.

I don't have any idea on weather satellite formats, but it could be an
all-North Korean one. Russia has not traditionally helped the country
with its technical development in recent years. If help came from
anywhere it is likely to have come from China.

Hope that helps,

Martyn
KJ6SDF