South Korea has successfully launched its first military communications satellite into space.
The Anasis-II satellite lifted off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Eastern Time.
According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, after separating from the rocket, the satellite successfully communicated with the Toulouse Space Operations Center in France at 7:19 p.m.
DAPA said the satellite is expected to reach its orbit of 36,000 kilometers in two weeks.
The Korean military will take over the system in October after manufacturer Airbus Defense and Space tests its functions and operability.
South Korea is now the 10th in the world to have a military-only communications satellite.
DAPA said the satellite will replace the ANASIS-I, which was used for both civilian and military purposes.
Anasis-II was originally scheduled to launch in early July, but the blastoff was pushed back by SpaceX due to a hardware inspection.
The project is part of an offset package for South Korea's purchase of 40 F-35A fighter jets from Lockheed Martin in 2014, which subcontracted the satellite manufacturing deal in 2016 to Airbus.
<Photo: Yonhap News>
