# Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2

> North Korean satellite, lost in a launch failure

**Wikidata**: [Q714770](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q714770)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kwangmyongsong-2

## Summary
Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 was a North Korean satellite launched on April 5, 2009, as part of the Kwangmyŏngsŏng program. The launch attempt failed, and the satellite was lost, marking the second failure in the program after Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1.

## Key Facts
- **Launch date**: April 5, 2009, at 02:30 UTC from Musudan-ri.
- **Launch vehicle**: Unha-2 (second stage).
- **Operator**: Korean Committee of Space Technology.
- **Classification**: Technology demonstration spacecraft and artificial satellite of the Earth.
- **Expected orbit**: Periapsis of 490 km and apoapsis of 1,426 km, with an orbital inclination of 40.6 degrees.
- **Power source**: Solar cell panel (4 units).
- **Program**: Part of the Kwangmyŏngsŏng program, following Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1 and preceding Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3.
- **Country of origin**: North Korea.
- **Outcome**: Launch failure, satellite lost.

## FAQs
### Q: What was Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2?
A: Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 was a North Korean satellite launched on April 5, 2009, as part of the Kwangmyŏngsŏng program. It was intended to demonstrate experimental technologies but failed to reach orbit.

### Q: Why did Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 fail?
A: The launch attempt failed, and the satellite was lost. The exact cause of the failure is not publicly disclosed.

### Q: What was the purpose of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2?
A: The satellite was designed to demonstrate experimental technologies and serve as an artificial satellite of the Earth.

### Q: How does Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 relate to other North Korean satellites?
A: It was the second satellite in the Kwangmyŏngsŏng program, following Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1 and preceding Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3, both of which also failed to reach orbit.

### Q: What was the expected orbit of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2?
A: The satellite was expected to have a periapsis of 490 km, an apoapsis of 1,426 km, and an orbital inclination of 40.6 degrees.

## Why It Matters
Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 was part of North Korea's efforts to develop its space capabilities, despite the repeated failures of its launches. The program aimed to demonstrate technological advancements and achieve orbital success, though it has yet to achieve a successful satellite deployment. The Kwangmyŏngsŏng program remains a subject of international interest due to its implications for North Korea's broader space ambitions and international relations.

## Notable For
- **Second attempt** in the Kwangmyŏngsŏng program, following Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1.
- **Technology demonstration** spacecraft, designed to test experimental technologies.
- **Failed launch**, marking the second consecutive failure in the program.
- **Part of the Unha-2 launch vehicle**, which was used for the mission.
- **Solar-powered**, with four solar cell panels providing electricity.

## Body
### Overview
Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 was a North Korean satellite launched on April 5, 2009, as part of the Kwangmyŏngsŏng program. The satellite was intended to demonstrate experimental technologies and serve as an artificial satellite of the Earth. However, the launch attempt failed, and the satellite was lost.

### Launch Details
- **Launch date**: April 5, 2009, at 02:30 UTC.
- **Launch site**: Musudan-ri.
- **Launch vehicle**: Unha-2 (second stage).
- **Operator**: Korean Committee of Space Technology.

### Satellite Specifications
- **Classification**: Technology demonstration spacecraft and artificial satellite of the Earth.
- **Expected orbit**:
  - Periapsis: 490 km.
  - Apoapsis: 1,426 km.
  - Orbital inclination: 40.6 degrees.
- **Power source**: Solar cell panel (4 units).

### Program Context
- **Part of**: Kwangmyŏngsŏng program.
- **Preceded by**: Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1 (launched in 2009, also failed).
- **Followed by**: Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 (launched in 2012, also failed).

### Outcome
- The launch attempt resulted in a failure, and the satellite was lost.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2",
  "description": "North Korean satellite launched in 2009 as part of the Kwangmyŏngsŏng program, which failed to reach orbit.",
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15241312", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwangmy%C5%8Dngs%C5%8Dng-2"],
  "additionalType": ["ArtificialSatellite", "TechnologyDemonstrationSpacecraft"]
}

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/kwangmyongsong-2.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013