# Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3

> North Korean Earth observation satellite, lost in a launch failure

**Wikidata**: [Q714767](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q714767)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kwangmyongsong-3

## Summary
Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 was a North Korean Earth observation satellite that failed to reach orbit during its launch on April 12, 2012. Developed as part of the Kwangmyŏngsŏng program, it was designed for technology demonstration and Earth observation but was lost due to a launch vehicle malfunction. It was preceded by the unsuccessful Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 and followed by Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2, North Korea's first successfully orbited satellite.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: April 12, 2012, at 22:38:55 UTC, from Sohae Satellite Launching Station.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Unha-3 (third flight of the rocket).
- **Mass**: Approximately 100 kg (launch weight).
- **Manufacturer**: Institute of Military Electronics (North Korea).
- **Outcome**: Mission failed due to launch vehicle malfunction.
- **Operator**: Korean Committee of Space Technology.
- **Power Source**: 3 spacecraft solar arrays.
- **Classifications**: Earth observation satellite, technology demonstration spacecraft.
- **Country of Origin**: North Korea.
- **Successor**: Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2 (first successful North Korean satellite).

## FAQs
### Q: What happened to Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3?
A: The satellite was lost in a launch failure on April 12, 2012, after the Unha-3 rocket failed to reach orbit.

### Q: What was the purpose of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3?
A: It was designed for Earth observation and to demonstrate experimental technologies as part of North Korea's space program.

### Q: Did North Korea successfully launch a satellite after Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3?
A: Yes, its successor, Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2, became North Korea's first satellite to achieve orbit in December 2012.

## Why It Matters
Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 represents a key, albeit unsuccessful, milestone in North Korea's efforts to develop indigenous space capabilities. Despite the launch failure, the mission highlighted the country's persistent investment in rocket technology and its ambitions to join the ranks of spacefaring nations. The launch drew significant international attention due to concerns over the dual-use nature of ballistic missile technology. Its failure also underscored the technical challenges faced by North Korea's space program, which later achieved success with the follow-up Unit 2 satellite. This satellite program plays a symbolic and strategic role in North Korea's domestic propaganda and geopolitical positioning.

## Notable For
- First North Korean satellite launch attempt using the Unha-3 rocket.
- Precursor to Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2, North Korea's first confirmed orbital satellite.
- Demonstrated North Korea's advancing, though inconsistent, rocket capabilities.
- Subject of international controversy due to concerns over missile technology proliferation.
- Utilized solar power for onboard systems, reflecting technical experimentation.

## Body
### Program Context
Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 was part of the broader Kwangmyŏngsŏng program, North Korea's series of satellite launches beginning in the 1990s. The program aimed to develop Earth observation and communications satellites, with dual civilian and military applications.

### Launch Details
- **Date/Time**: April 12, 2012, 22:38:55 UTC.
- **Launch Site**: Sohae Satellite Launching Station (Tongch'ang-ni).
- **Rocket**: Unha-3, a three-stage launch vehicle derived from the Taepodong-2 missile.
- **Failure Cause**: The rocket disintegrated approximately 40 seconds after launch due to a guidance system malfunction.

### Specifications
- **Mass**: ~100 kg (launch configuration).
- **Power**: 3 solar arrays for electrical power generation.
- **Payload**: Earth observation instruments (specific sensors not detailed in sources).

### Legacy
Despite the failure, Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 provided critical data for North Korean engineers. Its successor, Unit 2, launched on December 12, 2012, successfully entered orbit and transmitted imagery, marking a propaganda victory for the regime. The satellite's development underscored North Korea's focus on self-reliance (Juche) in strategic technologies.

## Schema Markup
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  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3",
  "description": "North Korean Earth observation satellite, lost in a launch failure",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15241312",
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  "manufacturer": "Institute of Military Electronics",
  "operatingOrganisation": "Korean Committee of Space Technology",
  "launchDate": "2012-04-12",
  "mass": "100 kg",
  "launchVehicle": "Unha-3"
}

## References

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