# Unha

> family of North Korean expendable launch vehicles

**Wikidata**: [Q496193](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q496193)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unha)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/unha

## Summary
Unha is a family of North Korean expendable launch vehicles designed to be used once and destroyed during operation. Manufactured by the Korean Committee of Space Technology, it is also known as Eunha, which translates to "Galaxy." The rocket family, which includes models such as the Unha-2 and Unha-3, made its first flight on April 5, 2009.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Unha is a family of expendable launch vehicles (rockets expended after use) and an instance of a rocket family.
*   **Origin:** The rocket family is manufactured in North Korea by the Korean Committee of Space Technology.
*   **First Flight:** The inaugural flight of the Unha launch vehicle took place on April 5, 2009.
*   **Variants:** The family includes specific models known as Unha-2 and Unha-3.
*   **Nomenclature:** "Unha" is the McCune–Reischauer romanization of the Korean name (은하), which is also romanized as "Eunha" and translates to "Galaxy" (銀河). "Unha-1" is also listed as an alias.
*   **Global Presence:** Information about the rocket is available across multiple Wikipedia languages, including English, French, Hebrew, and Hindi.

## FAQs
### Q: What does the name "Unha" mean?
A: The name Unha (or Eunha) is a Korean word that translates to "Galaxy" in English. It is represented by the characters 은하 in Hangul and 銀河 in Hanja.

### Q: Who builds the Unha rocket?
A: The Unha rocket is manufactured by the Korean Committee of Space Technology, which serves as the primary entity responsible for North Korea's space launch capabilities.

### Q: Is the Unha rocket reusable?
A: No. The Unha is classified as an "expendable launch vehicle," meaning it is designed for a single use and is not recovered after launching its payload.

### Q: When did the Unha rocket family first launch?
A: The first recorded flight of the Unha launch vehicle occurred on April 5, 2009.

## Why It Matters
The Unha rocket family represents a significant component of North Korea's aerospace efforts, serving as the primary vehicle for the nation's attempts to place satellites into orbit. As a subclass of expendable launch vehicles, it illustrates the country's technical capacity to develop multi-stage rockets capable of reaching space. The evolution of the family, from earlier iterations to specific models like the Unha-2 and Unha-3, highlights an ongoing engineering program managed by the Korean Committee of Space Technology.

The existence of this rocket family places North Korea among the group of nations possessing indigenous space launch capabilities. While the technology is distinct from other global launch systems, its development is a key marker of the country's scientific and industrial progress in rocketry. The program garners international attention, reflected in its documentation across various languages and global knowledge bases, serving as a focal point for discussions on space technology and regional security dynamics.

## Notable For
*   **Indigenous Space Capability:** Being the primary family of expendable launch vehicles developed and manufactured by North Korea.
*   **Nomenclature:** Recognized internationally by its distinct name meaning "Galaxy," with variations in romanization including Eunha and Ŭnha.
*   **Specific Variants:** Distinguished by its specific operational models, the Unha-2 and Unha-3, which define the evolution of the launch system.
*   **Timeline:** Marking its entry into service with a specific first flight date in early 2009.

## Body
### Design and Classification
The Unha is formally classified as a family of expendable launch vehicles. As an expendable system, it is designed for one-time use, where the rocket stages are discarded or destroyed as they separate during ascent. It falls under the broader class of space launch vehicles and is categorized as a "rocket family." This classification indicates that the Unha serves as a base design or series from which specific models are derived.

### Development and Manufacturing
The development and production of the Unha are centralized within North Korea. The designated manufacturer is the Korean Committee of Space Technology. This organization oversees the engineering, testing, and launch operations associated with the vehicle. The program is a state-led effort, reflecting the country's investment in space exploration technologies.

### Models and Variants
The Unha family comprises specific models that serve as iterations or configurations of the launch system. Verified components of this family include:
*   **Unha-2:** A specific model of the expendable launch vehicle.
*   **Unha-3:** A subsequent model of the expendable launch vehicle, utilized in notable launch attempts.

While "Unha-1" appears as an alias in some records, the Unha-2 and Unha-3 are explicitly identified as class models within the family structure.

### Operational History
The Unha rocket family has an active operational timeline beginning in the late 2000s.
*   **Maiden Flight:** The first flight of the Unha vehicle was successfully conducted on April 5, 2009.

### Naming and Linguistics
The rocket's naming convention reflects its Korean origins.
*   **Native Name:** 은하 (Hangul) / 銀河 (Hanja).
*   **Meaning:** "Galaxy."
*   **Romanization:** The name is standardly romanized as "Unha," though the revised romanization is "Eunha" and the McCune–Reischauer romanization is "Ŭnha."

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013