South Korea puts second military spy (reconnaissance) satellite successfully into orbit | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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South Korea puts second military spy (reconnaissance) satellite successfully into orbit

Posted 18 Apr 2024

2 min read

  • The satellite was launched by the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. 
    • Satellite is equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) capable of producing images regardless of weather conditions.

 

  • About Spy or Reconnaissance satellite
    • It provides intelligence information on the military activities of foreign countries. 
    • It can be either a communications satellite or an Earth observation satellite.
    • It can pick up and record radio and radar transmissions while passing over a country.
    • Major Types
      • Optical-imaging satellites: They have light sensors that detect missile launches and see enemy weapons on the ground.
      • Radar-imaging satellites: They can observe the Earth using radar technologies even during cloud cover. 
      • Signals-intelligence or ferret satellites:  They capture the radio and microwave transmissions. 

 

  • Countries like US [Keyhole series (KH)], China (Yaogan series), Russia (Persona series) etc. have launched many reconnaissance satellites. 
    • Radar Imaging Satellite – 2 (RISAT-2) is generally considered to be India’s reconnaissance satellite. It was equipped with SAR.

 

  • Concerns: 
    • Militarization of space, 
    • Promotes mistrust among the countries (E.g. North and South Korea), 
    • Can be used as dual used technology (as orbital weapon by placing warheads on a low orbit satellite to be launched at a ground target), etc. 
    • China’s reconnaissance satellite can collect crucial military information about India, etc. 
  • Tags :
  • Reconnaissance Satellite
  • Spy Satellite
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