[Simulation] Here's what North Korea's missile launch might look like

April 12, 2012 North Korea

David Cenciotti

Based on publicly available stuff, Analytical Graphics has produced a computer simulation showing North Korean Unha-3 long-range rocket’s possible path, tracking assets and landing zone.

As highlighted by North Korea Tech website:

The simulation lacks of the most recent theories on the precise launch path, such as a slight dog-leg turn in the trajectory of the satellite when the third stage separates, but that’s not too important.

Take a look and you’ll have a good feel for the path of the rocket and how the first and second stages will drop into the ocean.

As already explained, the rocket will be tracked by Japanese Aegis destroyers dispatched under the air cover provided by Japanese F-15J, that will have to take care of Russian and Chinese spyplanes.

Japan worried about Russian and Chinese intelligence-gathering planes during North Korean missile launch (theaviationist.com)
North Korea’s Missile Launch Begins (gizmodo.com.au)
Photos of North Korea’s newest rocket (security.blogs.cnn.com)

About David Cenciotti

David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.