South Korea Launches its First Military Spy Satellite
South Korea launched its first military spy satellite into space, a little over a week after North Korea claimed to put its own spy satellite into orbit for the first time as tensions rise between the rivals.
Launched from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base using SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, it was the first of five spy satellites South Korea plans to send into space by 2025 under a contract with SpaceX.
South Korea had no military reconnaissance satellites of its own in space and has partially resorted to the United States' spy satellites to monitor moves by North Korea.
Dec 01, 2023
Space-Tech Start-up Agnikul to Flight Test 3D-printed Engine by Year-End
Chennai-based start-up Agnikul is gearing up to launch its groundbreaking rocket, Agnibaan, featuring the world's first 3D-printed engine. The company, incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, is set to conduct a technology demonstrator mission by the end of this year, paving the way for its first commercial launch in 2024.
Agnibaan boasts the pioneering Agnilet engine, a single-piece 3D-printed marvel, designed and manufactured entirely in India. This engine, successfully test-fired in early 2021, marked a significant milestone in 3D printing technology for the country. Unlike traditional sounding rockets, Agnibaan is a highly customisable, single-stage launch vehicle capable of carrying up to 300 kg payloads to orbits around 700 km high (low Earth orbits).