Kwangmyongsong 1

Launch Failure

Launch Details

Date: 31 Aug 1998, 03:07 am UTC

Rocket: Paektusan 1

Provider: Korean Committee of Space Technology

Mission

Type: Test Flight

Orbit: Low Earth Orbit

Pad: Satellite Launch Pad, Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground

Mission Description

Thir first attempt to launch a North Korean satellite ended in vain, as the third stage of the Pekdosan-1 (a.k.a. Taepodong-1) launch vehicle failed shortly before it reached orbital velocity. Kwangmyŏngsŏng 1 would have beamed propaganda songs from space, if it had reached a stable orbit.