A United States (U.S.) Defense official said North Korea's recently launched satellite is tumbling in orbit which makes it useless. The scenario is similar to a previous satellite the country launched in December 2012.
The North Korea's Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite may be tumbling in orbit but the country considers the launch a successful feat because its Unha 3 rocket was able to get its payload into orbit. The technology used to get the satellite into orbit is the same technology needed for an armed intercontinental ballistic nuclear missile to reach mainland U.S.
The California-based Joint Space Operations Center (JSPOC) at the Vandenberg Air Force Base is monitoring the North Korean Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite and the Unha 3 rocket booster stage that are both in orbit.
The Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite even made a surprise flyby directly overhead the Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara at 8:26 P.M. last Sunday an hour after the Broncos-Panthers Super Bowl match.
According to FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge John Lightfoot, they know about the North Korea launch and that the military is monitoring this activity.
"It did not affect anything we did on the ground in Santa Clara," added Lightfoot who helped in the supervision of the Super Bowl 50 security protocol.
The tumbling orbit could make the Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite re-enter the atmosphere much quicker. However, this scenario could take years. In fact, the JSPOC is still monitoring the other tumbling satellite that North Korean launched in December 2012 as well as its three corresponding debris. No transmission signals were detected coming from the 2012 tumbling satellite but North Korea said otherwise.
The Kwangmyongsong-4 carrier rocket lifted off from Sohae Satellite Launching Station in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province, North Korea at 9 A.M. last Sunday. It entered orbit at nine minutes and 46 seconds post-launch.
"The date of the launch appears to be in consideration of the weather condition and ahead of the Lunar New Year and the U.S. Super Bowl," said South Korean National Assembly Intelligence Committee chairman Jo Ho-young.
Photo: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | Flickr
