spacetoday.net: Reports: North Korean launch failed to place satellite in orbit

Posted: Sun, Apr 5, 2009, 10:35 AM ET (1435 GMT)
Taepodong-2 rocket on pad in late March 2009 (Digitalglobe)

North Korea launched a long-range missile on Sunday that it claimed was a satellite launch, but US officials said that there is no evidence that anything reached orbit. The Taepodong-2 rocket launched at approximately 10:30 pm EDT Saturday (0230 GMT, 11:30 am local time Sunday) from the Musudan-ri site in northeastern South Korea. According to official North Korean reports, the rocket placed a small experimental communications satellite, Kwangmyongsong-2, into low Earth orbit, broadcasting patriotic songs. However, US officials said on Sunday that there was no sign of the satellite or any other objects placed into orbit by the rocket. North korea made similar claims after a 1998 rocket launch attempt that also failed to place a satellite into orbit. The launch raised tensions in both the region and around the world, as many considered the satellite launch a cover story for a long-range missile test.