South Korea successfully puts into orbit its third domestic spy satellite launched from US space station

According to the defense ministry, South Korea‘s third domestic spy satellite, which was launched from a US space center on Saturday, was safely put into orbit.

As scheduled, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the reconnaissance satellite took off from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 8:34 p.m. (Korean time) and launched the satellite into orbit at 9:24 p.m., according to Yonhap News Agency.

It said that the satellite’s successful communication with a ground station abroad around 11:30 p.m. was a sign of its regular functioning.

In keeping with its goal of acquiring five spy satellites by 2025, it is the third military satellite to be launched. In the past, South Korea has mostly depended on American satellite images.