Unha

Unha

Unha-3 at launch pad in April 2012
Function	Expendable carrier rocket
Manufacturer	Korean Committee of Space Technology
Country of origin	North Korea
Size
Height	28–30 metres (92–98 ft)
Diameter	2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in)
Mass	89,000–91,000 kilograms (196,000–201,000 lb)
Stages	3
Launch history
Status	Active
Launch sites	Sohae, Tonghae
Total launches	4
Successes	2
Failures	2
First flight	5 April 2009
First stage
Length	15 m (49 ft)
Diameter	2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)
Engines	4 Nodong 2-1
Thrust	1100 kN
Specific impulse	252 sec
Burn time	120 seconds
Fuel	IRFNA / UDMH
Second stage
Length	8.8–9.3 m (29–31 ft)
Diameter	1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
Engines	unknown
Thrust	250 kN
Specific impulse	255 s
Burn time	110 seconds
Fuel	IRFNA / UDMH
Third stage
Length	3.7–5.7 m (12–19 ft)
Diameter	1.2–1.25 m (3 ft 11 in–4 ft 1 in)
Engines	unknown
Thrust	54 kN
Specific impulse	230 sec
Burn time	40 seconds
Fuel	LOX/RP2

The Unha or Eunha (Korean: 은하, 銀河, "Galaxy") is a North Korean expendable carrier rocket, which partially utilizes the same delivery system as the Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile.

North Korea's first orbital space launch attempt occurred on August 31, 1998 and was unsuccessful. This launch attempt was performed by a Paektusan-1 rocket, which used a solid motor third stage, a Scud-missile-based second stage, and a Nodong-1 based first stage. Nodong-1 was a North Korean-developed stage thought to be a scale-up of the old Soviet Scud missile. The Paektusan-1 stood 22.5 metres (74 ft) tall, was 1.8 metres (6 ft) in diameter, and weighed about 21 tonnes.

The Unha's first stage consists of four clustered Nodong motors, which themselves are enlarged Scud motors. The second stage was initially thought to be based on the SS-N-6, although it, too, is now believed to be based on Scud technology. The third and last stage might be identical to the Iranian Safir's second stage which is propelled by two small gimballed motors.

Recent satellite images of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station showing an enlarged launch tower under construction indicate that an enlarged version, called Unha-X, might be under development, coupled with a North Korean propaganda poster showing such a vehicle.

On 24 February 2009, North Korea announced that a Unha rocket would be used to launch the Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 satellite. According to the South Korean government, the launch took place on 5 April from the Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground in Hwadae county. Several countries, including South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, voiced concerns that the launch would violate United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718 which prohibits North Korea from testing ballistic missiles. Russia also announced they urged North Korea to refrain from its planned rocket launch.