North Korea launches KMS-4, 7 Feb 2016 00:29 UT

From: Marco Langbroek via Seesat-l <seesat-l_at_satobs.org>
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2016 10:33:46 +0100
After the start of the launch window was suddenly shifted to one day earlier 
yesterday, North Korea launched its Kwangmyongsong 4 satellite this morning.

According to US Stratcom the launch was at 00:29 UT:

https://www.stratcom.mil/news/2016/596/USSTRATCOM_Detects_Tracks_North_Korean_Missile_Launch_into_Space/

This is within minutes of the opening of the time window in my assessment here :

http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Feb-2016/0021.html

(my assessment 00:24-00:41, with ~00:24 if they aimed for a similar solar 
elevation as during the the 2012 launch. For Pyongyang, 12 Dec 2012 00:49:49 UT 
corresponds to 17.5 degree solar elevation: 7 Feb 2016 00:29 corresponds to 18.0 
degree solar elevation)

First orbits released on Space-Track show an A object, which is likely the 
satellite, in a 465 x 502 km, 97.5 deg inclined sun-synchronous orbit with a 
94.3 minute orbital revolution.

This is a lower and more circular orbit than that of KMS 3-2 from 2012 (495 x 
588 km initial orbit).

The B object that is likely the upper stage, is in a 433 x 502 km orbit.

Catalogue numbers are #41332 and #41333.


- Marco


-----
Dr Marco Langbroek  -  SatTrackCam Leiden, the Netherlands.
e-mail: sattrackcam_at_langbroek.org

Cospar 4353 (Leiden):   52.15412 N, 4.49081 E (WGS84), +0 m ASL
Cospar 4355 (Cronesteyn): 52.13878 N, 4.49937 E (WGS84), -2 m ASL
Station (b)log: http://sattrackcam.blogspot.com
Twitter: _at_Marco_Langbroek
-----
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Received on Sun Feb 07 2016 - 03:34:12 UTC

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