On December 22, South Korea successfully launched its third homegrown spy satellite into orbit. The satellite was carried by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which took off from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 8:34 p.m. Korean time. By 9:24 p.m., the satellite was in orbit, and it successfully communicated with an overseas ground station at 11:30 p.m., confirming its normal operation. This launch is part of South Korea's plan to have five spy satellites by 2025, reducing its reliance on satellite imagery from the United States.
A spy satellite is a type of satellite used to take pictures and gather information from space. Countries use them to keep an eye on other countries for security reasons.
Vandenberg Space Force Base is a place in California, USA, where rockets are launched into space. It's like a big airport, but for rockets instead of airplanes.
SpaceX Falcon 9 is a type of rocket made by a company called SpaceX. It is used to carry things like satellites into space.
Orbit is the path that a satellite follows around the Earth. It's like a race track in space where the satellite keeps going around the planet.
A ground station is a place on Earth with big antennas that talk to satellites in space. They send and receive information to make sure the satellite is working properly.
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