KMS-4

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10-day predictions

NORAD ID: 41332

Int'l Code: 2016-009A

Perigee: 458.6 km

Apogee: 488.0 km

Inclination: 97.4 °

Period: 93.9 minutes

Semi major axis: 6844 km

RCS: Unknown

Launch date: February 7, 2016
Source: North Korea (NKOR)
Launch site: Yunsong, DPRK (YUN)

KMS-4 (Kwangmyongsong-4 meaning Bright Star-4 or Lodestar-4 in Korean) is an earth observation satellite launched by North Korea on 7 February 2016. The launch happened after North Korea conducted a nuclear test on 6 January and as the United Nations Security Council is deciding on sanctions to be placed on the country following the nuclear test. The launch was also timed to celebrate the 74th birthday of late leader Kim Jong-il on February 16. Details on the Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite are not available, though it can be assumed that its design is similar to KMS-3-2 which carried an Earth observation camera and a 470MHz UHF radio payload to transmit patriotic songs. KMS-3-2 was reported to be three-axis stabilized and its cameras were to be used to collect still imagery as well as videos, to be downlinked via X-Band. The satellite is expected to operate for at least four years and fulfill an Earth Observation task."

1 41332U 16009A   19170.88677666 +.00000784 +00000-0 +26720-4 0  9991
2 41332 097.3637 239.3247 0021517 292.0063 067.8894 15.33242814188000

Source of the keplerian elements: AFSPC